Homes of 5 Terrorists Demolished in Jammu and Kashmir After Pahalgam Attack

Days after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 individuals, security forces razed the houses of five terrorists, including a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander, in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday evening. The razing was carried out in the Shopian, Kulgam, and Pulwama districts as part of an intensified crackdown against suspects connected with the April 22 massacre.

LeT Commander’s House Razed in Shopian

In Shopian’s Chotipora village, officials demolished the house of LeT commander Shahid Ahmed Kutte, who has been allegedly involved in terror activities for more than three years. Officials added that Kutte was a major player in coordinating anti-national operations and had been on the radar of intelligence agencies for long.

Targeted Demolitions in Kulgam and Pulwama

In Kulgam’s Matalam area, the house of active terrorist Zahid Ahmed was torn down. Simultaneously, a powerful explosion brought down the residence of Ahsan Ul Haq in Pulwama’s Murran area. Ahsan, who underwent terror training in Pakistan in 2018, had recently returned to the Valley, sparking concerns about renewed activity.

Pulwama also witnessed the demolition of the homes of two other LeT operatives:

• Ehsan Ahmad Sheikh, active since June 2023

• Haris Ahmad, who joined terrorist ranks last year. His house was demolished in a blast in Kachipora area.

Houses of Pahalgam Attackers Also Destroyed

Security personnel had also leveled the homes of two LeT militants – Adil Hussain Thoker and Asif Sheikh – on Thursday night, suspected to be among the attackers of the Pahalgam strike. Explosives were allegedly put inside their residences in order to conduct the demolition.

Earlier, Anantnag Police had issued sketches of Thoker and two suspected Pakistani nationals who were involved in the attack: Hashim Musa alias Suleman and Ali Bhai alias Talha Bhai. ₹20 lakh reward has been announced for information about each of the suspects.

Pahalgam Massacre and India’s Response

The Pahalgam terrorist attack was carried out in the picturesque Baisaran Valley, also referred to as “Mini Switzerland,” a place of high altitude orchards and rolling hills. Several terrorists targeted tourists on Tuesday, shooting 26 of them dead, including a Nepali citizen, and injuring a number of others. Witnesses recalled scenes of utter chaos as firing took place in the open terrain with no cover in sight.

In reaction, security forces like the Army, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir Police have launched a large-scale search operation to locate the attackers.

India also took tough diplomatic action, suspending the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan on grounds of “sustained cross-border terrorism.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to “identify, track and punish” each terrorist and their “backers” for the carnage.