Security Forces Demolish Homes, Arrest 2,500 in Kashmir Crackdown

SRINAGAR: Security forces demolished family homes of two “wanted” Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists and detained more than 2,500 people for questioning across Kashmir overnight in a sweeping crackdown following Wednesday’s fatal shooting of a J&K police head constable on duty in Lal Chowk market in Anantnag town. Officials said Thursday forces used controlled explosives to demolish the house where Adil Ahmad Thoker’s family lives in Guri village of Anantnag district. It was the second time the house was blown up after a similar demolition following the Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 people on April 22, 2025. Forces also demolished the house of Haroon Rashid Ganaie’s family at Hassanpora Tawella in Bijbehara. Teams reached both villages around 3am and asked occupants to leave before detonating explosives. Thoker and Ganaie have been associated with LeT since 2018. Police said those detained were suspected “overground workers” accused of providing logistics, shelter, cash, transport, communications and other support to terrorists. About 700 were detained in Srinagar district, 178 in Baramulla, 200 in Budgam, 100 in Ganderbal, and several hundred more in Anantnag, Shopian and Kulgam. A police officer said the operation aimed to identify and dismantle networks providing logistical, financial, communication, transport and shelter support to terrorist organisations. LG Manoj Sinha chaired a security review Thursday and directed officials to remain “highly vigilant” and neutralise emerging threats. He also reviewed arrangements for Amarnath Yatra, suspended since July 19 because of heavy rain. More than 391,000 have visited the cave shrine in Anantnag district in the first 20 days of the annual pilgrimage. Officials said the manhunt continues for the lone terrorist who murdered 45-year-old head constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi, a father of three from Lalpora village in central Kashmir’s Budgam. CM Omar Abdullah criticised the demolitions and detentions, calling the police action counter-productive. “People are angry that a police head constable has been killed so brutally. But when the number of arrests rises from hundreds to 2,000 or 2,500, that public anger risks being redirected against us,” he said. “So, demolishing houses or making thousands of arrests will not help improve the situation.” Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Lone and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti called the detentions “mass arrests”, saying they “look more like community punishment”.