Crackdown on Pahalgam Attack: Houses of 5 Lashkar Terrorists Demolished

In a swift and coordinated response to the brutal Pahalgam terror attack, Jammu and Kashmir authorities have demolished the homes of five active Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists suspected to be directly involved in the incident that left 26 people, including tourists and locals, dead.

The attack occurred on April 22 in Baisaran meadow—popularly known as ‘mini Switzerland’—where five to six terrorists opened fire on tourists in a peaceful picnic spot. The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar offshoot, claimed responsibility.

Starting Friday, security forces launched targeted demolitions across multiple districts. The house of Adil Hussain Thoker, who trained in Pakistan and allegedly masterminded the assault, was destroyed in Bijbehara using IEDs. In Tral, the residences of Asif Sheikh and Adil Sheikh were razed. Pulwama authorities demolished the home of Ahsan Ahmad Sheikh, while in Shopian, Shahid Ahmed’s residence was blown up. In a parallel operation in Kulgam, the home of Zakir Ganie, who joined Lashkar in 2023, was also demolished.

Eyewitnesses of the Pahalgam attack described chaos as terrorists opened fire from surrounding pine forests. Victims included tourists from the UAE and Nepal.

J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the massacre, calling it “one of the deadliest civilian attacks in recent years.”

The operations signal a zero-tolerance approach by authorities against terrorism and those providing shelter to active militants.