Security forces demolish two homes of Lashkar militants in Kashmir; CM questions collective punishment
Security forces on Thursday demolished two residential houses belonging to alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba militants in south Kashmir, a day after a policeman was killed in a terror attack in Anantnag. The action has drawn criticism from Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and other political leaders, who say such measures amount to collective punishment and violate Supreme Court guidelines.
Officials said the operation began around 3 a.m. in Anantnag's Guri village and Hassanpora Tawella. According to local residents, security forces used explosives to bring down the structures after asking occupants to leave. Locals reported that a mosque and a vehicle were also damaged in the demolitions, which created loud blasts. The inmates of the houses declined to comment.
The demolished properties—a three-storey and a single-storey residence—belonged to Adil Ahmad Thoker and Haroon Rashid Ganai, both identified by officials as LeT militants. Ganai had been active since 2018.
The action came a day after a head constable was shot dead at close range in Anantnag. In response, security forces launched a major clampdown, detaining over 2,500 people across 10 districts of the Kashmir valley, according to reports.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha chaired a high-level security review meeting in Srinagar with senior officials from the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, civil administration, and central armed police forces. The meeting focused on coordination for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, with Sinha directing all agencies to ensure the safety and convenience of pilgrims and to address weather-related challenges.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah questioned the demolitions and mass arrests. “Terrorism cannot be defeated through bulldozers or mass arrests alone. People are essential for restoring lasting peace. People are angry over the brutal killing of the police head constable. But when thousands of people are detained, that anger gets redirected. We must take our people along in this fight; only then will we succeed,” he said.
Referring to the detentions, Abdullah said such actions go against the spirit of Supreme Court directions. He noted that after the Pahalgam attack, several houses were demolished, but subsequent investigations showed no local resident was involved. “Demolishing homes and arresting a large number of individuals could exacerbate the situation. It would be beneficial to involve the community,” he added.
Former Chief Minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said, “Detaining over a thousand people and demolishing the homes of families of two alleged militants amounts to collective punishment that has no place in a democracy. If the Government of India itself maintains that militancy has been reduced to near zero, it must adopt a more humane and lawful approach towards innocent civilians.”
Senior PDP leader Naeem Akhtar said the security forces’ actions “could qualify for the book of records. One murder, 2,500 detentions, a couple home demolitions. At some crucial level, the belief is that every one of a particular demographic is disloyal, suspect and a potential threat.”
