Two more terror suspects’ houses demolished in Kashmir

Srinagar: Even as calls grow within Kashmir for a lawful approach to confront terrorism, authorities on Sunday demolished the houses of two more alleged active terrorists in Bandipora, Pulwama, and Shopian districts.

With this, the number of suspected terrorists’ and overground workers’ homes razed since the April 22 Pahalgam attack has risen to 10. The attack in the Baisaran meadows in tourist resort Pahalgam in south Kashmir on April 22 killed 26 people, mostly tourists, and triggered nationwide outrage.

Continuing with the targeted demolition drive, authorities pulled down the house of suspected active terrorist Amir Nazir in Pulwama district, reports said. In Bandipora district, the house of suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist, Jameel Ahmad Shergojri, was razed.

Officials said Shergojri has been an active terrorist since 2016.

The demolitions are part of a broader security operation that has seen more than 500 raids conducted across the Valley in the past five days, with hundreds of suspects detained for questioning.

Political parties have urged the Centre to act firmly against terrorism but cautioned against punishing those, who are not part of terrorism. Leaders including former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, and Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq have appealed for restraint, warning that indiscriminate action could deepen alienation among ordinary Kashmiris.

Families of those whose houses have been demolished have accused authorities of inflicting collective punishment for the actions of their relatives, adding another layer of controversy to the ongoing crackdown.

The Pahalgam attack—one of the deadliest civilian massacres in Kashmir in recent years—has shaken the Valley and the rest of the country. The government has vowed to bring all those involved to justice, even as it navigates growing concerns over the methods employed in its anti-terror drive.