In Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, the authorities on Thursday demolished the homes of two alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists after planting IEDs, a day after a police head constable was shot dead in the district.
According to officials, the demolished properties belonged to Adil Thoker, a resident of Guri village in Bijbehara, and Haroon Ganai, a resident of Hasanpora. The operation was carried out as part of the investigation into the attack.
Police said Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi was shot dead at around 12:30 pm on Tuesday at Lal Chowk in Anantnag, South Kashmir. Officials alleged that both terrorists were involved in the attack that killed the police officer.
Adil Thokar is associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
Haroon Ganai is associated with Hizbul Mujahideen (HM).
Qureshi was deployed on Amarnath Yatra duty
Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi, attached to the Indian Reserve Police (IRP) and the Special Operations Group (SOG), was deployed on security duty for the Amarnath Yatra. At the time of the attack, the pilgrimage had been temporarily suspended due to adverse weather conditions.
According to officials, at around 12.30 pm on Tuesday, terrorists opened fire on Qureshi from close range at Lal Chowk in Anantnag. Security personnel returned fire, leading to a brief exchange of gunfire before the attackers fled the scene.
Qureshi sustained critical injuries and was rushed to the Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital in Anantnag, where doctors declared him dead. He is survived by his wife and three children.
Officials said The Resistance Front (TRF), an outfit linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi, martyred in the terrorist attack, was a resident of Budgam.
Security forces launch crackdown across the Valley
According to security agencies, both suspects have been active since 2018. Officials identified Adil Thoker as a Lashkar-e-Taiba operative. While current intelligence indicates that Haroon Ganai is affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), another official statement described both men as LeT terrorists.
Investigators said Thoker travelled to Pakistan through the Attari–Wagah border in 2018, where he allegedly underwent terrorist training before infiltrating back into Jammu and Kashmir last year.
Following the attack, the Jammu and Kashmir Police and security forces launched an extensive search operation across the Kashmir Valley. A senior official said that more than 2,000 Over Ground Workers (OGWs) have been detained as part of the ongoing crackdown.
Officials said the operation is aimed at dismantling the terrorist support network by identifying those who provide militants with shelter, financial assistance, transport and communication facilities. Search operations have also been intensified in Anantnag and other parts of the Valley.
Recent terrorist incidents in J&K
1. July 18: Infiltration attempt at Rajouri LoC
The Indian Army opened fire after observing suspicious activity on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district on the night of July 17. According to officials, soldiers observed the activity of some suspicious people in the Tarkundi forward area around 10 pm, after which firing took place.
Officials said that intermittent firing continued from both sides for about an hour and a half. There were no casualties in the attack. The army believes that suspected terrorists were trying to infiltrate. However, no arrests were made.
2. July 8: Shopian Lashkar commander Zakir Ahmed killed
Security forces killed Lashkar-e-Taiba’s top commander Zakir Ahmed Gani during an encounter in Shopian. He was included in the list of 14 most wanted terrorists released after the Pahalgam terrorist attack. The operation was jointly carried out by the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF.
