Homes of Five LeT Terrorists Razed in J&K in Crackdown After Pahalgam Attack

Srinagar: In a sweeping crackdown days after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, security forces on Friday night demolished the houses of five Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, including a senior commander, across Jammu and Kashmir. The latest demolitions took place in the districts of Shopian, Kulgam, and Pulwama, as authorities intensified efforts to dismantle the terror network behind the carnage.

In Shopian’s Chotipora village, the residence of LeT commander Shahid Ahmed Kutte was flattened. Active in terror activities for over three years, Kutte is accused of coordinating key anti-national operations, officials said. Another house belonging to active terrorist Zahid Ahmed was demolished in Kulgam’s Matalam area.

In Pulwama, three separate demolitions were carried out:

• Ahsan Ul Haq’s house in Murran was razed with explosives. Haq had received terror training in Pakistan in 2018 and had recently infiltrated back into the Valley.
• Ehsan Ahmad Sheikh’s double-storey home was torn down. Sheikh has been active since June 2023.
• Haris Ahmad’s house in Kachipora was also brought down using explosives. He too has been on the radar since 2023.

Sources confirmed that cases have been registered against all five terrorists.

This comes a day after the homes of Adil Hussain Thoker and Asif Sheikh, identified as masterminds of the Pahalgam attack, were destroyed in controlled blasts. Explosives were reportedly found inside their homes.

On Thursday, Anantnag Police released sketches of Thoker and two other suspects – Hashim Musa alias Suleman and Ali Bhai alias Talha Bhai – both Pakistani nationals. Authorities have announced a ₹20 lakh reward for any information leading to their arrest.

The April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley, also known as “Mini Switzerland”, sent shockwaves across the country. Armed terrorists opened fire on unarmed tourists, killing 26, including one Nepali national, and injuring many more. Survivors described scenes of chaos and helplessness in the open, scenic valley.

A massive manhunt is underway, with the Indian Army, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir Police launching search operations across the region.

In response to the attack, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, accusing Pakistan of “sustained cross-border terrorism”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to identify and punish every terrorist and those providing them support.