J&K authorities demolish houses of 3 more terrorists as Pahalgam attack probe intensifies

NEW DELHI: Authorities have demolished the houses of three more active terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, taking the total number of such actions to nine since the deadly Pahalgam attack on April 22.

Security officials told PTI on Sunday that properties in Bandipora, Pulwama and Shopian districts had been razed as part of the ongoing crackdown on the terror ecosystem.
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In Shopian district, the house of Adnan Shafi, who had joined terrorist ranks last year, was demolished on Saturday night in Wandina village. Meanwhile, in Pulwama, authorities took down the residence of active terrorist Amir Nazir. In Bandipora, security forces destroyed the home of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative Jameel Ahmad Shergojri, who has been involved in terror activities since 2016.

The demolitions are part of intensified security measures following the Pahalgam terror attack, where gunmen opened fire on tourists in Baisaran meadow on April 22, killing 26 people, including a Nepali citizen, and injuring several others. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had vowed to pursue the killers "to the ends of the earth," and the subsequent security crackdown has seen a wave of demolitions and encounters.
Earlier, authorities demolished properties linked to other terror suspects, including Zakir Ahmad Ganie in Kulgam and LeT commander Shahid Ahmad Kuttay in Chotipora, Shopian. Ganie was believed to have been active since 2023, while Kuttay had allegedly been involved in anti-national activities for over three years. Controlled demolitions were carried out to avoid damage to neighbouring houses, according to officials.

Also read: Video shows demolished homes of 5 terrorists days after Pahalgam terror attack
The crackdown has also seen the houses of Adil Hussain Thoker, also known as Adil Guree, Asif Sheikh in Awantipora, and Ahsan Sheikh in Pulwama demolished. Intelligence reports suggest Adil Guree had travelled legally to Pakistan in 2018, received terror training, and returned to Jammu and Kashmir last year to aid Pakistani terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack.
In addition to the demolitions, security forces killed a Lashkar-e-Taiba associate, Altaf Lalli, during an encounter in Bandipora on Friday. Two police personnel were injured in the exchange of fire but are reported to be in stable condition.
'NIA takes over probe'
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has officially taken over the investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack, news agency ANI reported quoting sources. Meanwhile, the Army remains on high alert, conducting numerous search operations to neutralise the terrorists responsible for the attack.
Tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) escalated when Pakistan Army posts initiated unprovoked small arms fire on the night of April 26-27. The Indian Army responded effectively, returning fire.
In Kulgam district, the police, in collaboration with the Army and CRPF, arrested two terrorist associates and seized arms and ammunition.
In response to the attack, the government had suspended the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan, and shut down the Attari checkpost.