In a dramatic escalation of operations following the Pahalgam terror attack, security forces and Jammu and Kashmir authorities demolished the homes of two suspected militants on Friday.
The residence of Lashkar-e-Taiba operative Adil Hussain Thoker in Bijbehara was destroyed using improvised explosive devices (IEDs), while Asif Sheikh’s home in Tral was flattened by a bulldozer.
Thoker is believed to have played a crucial role in aiding Pakistani terrorists to plan and execute the massacre at the picturesque Baisaran Valley, where 26 civilians lost their lives earlier this week.
According to police sources, Thoker had legally crossed into Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah border in 2018, where he is suspected to have undergone terror training. He reportedly infiltrated back into Jammu and Kashmir sometime last year, operating discreetly until now.
The Anantnag Police have announced a ₹20 lakh bounty for any credible information leading to the capture of Thoker, as well as two Pakistani militants — Ali Bhai and Hashim Musa — who are believed to have carried out the assault. Police have also released sketches of the three as part of a full-scale manhunt across South Kashmir.
Officials revealed that Musa and Ali have been active in the Valley for nearly two years, operating under the umbrella of Lashkar-e-Taiba proxies.
Investigations into the brutal attack suggest that a group of 4-5 terrorists, dressed in military fatigues, emerged from the dense pine forests surrounding Baisaran Valley and indiscriminately opened fire with AK-47 rifles on unsuspecting tourists.
Survivor accounts chillingly describe how the attackers inspected identification documents to confirm the victims’ religion before executing non-Muslims at close range.
Preliminary findings indicate the terrorists were wearing body cameras and helmet-mounted video devices to record the assault, suggesting meticulous planning.
Further, stockpiles of dry fruits and medicines recovered from the area point to extensive logistical preparation for a prolonged engagement.
The Pahalgam massacre has triggered one of the sharpest diplomatic confrontations between India and Pakistan in recent times. New Delhi has firmly held Islamabad responsible for fostering a climate that allowed the attack.
In response, India swiftly rolled out a series of punitive measures within 24 hours, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, downgrading diplomatic ties, and cancelling all visas issued to Pakistani nationals.
Pakistan, in turn, retaliated by announcing its own set of diplomatic actions and closing its airspace to Indian-owned and operated airlines, raising tensions sharply in the already fragile region
