New Delhi: Security personnel in South Kashmir razed the houses of three more suspected terrorists on Sunday, bringing the total number of homes demolished to nine since the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, as per officials.
Political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir have reacted to the ongoing action against suspected terrorists. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah underlined that strong action should be taken against terrorists. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief and former CM Mehbooba Mufti pointed out that it was necessary that civilians and terrorists are distinguished during counterterror operations following the attack.
Officials said three houses of suspected terrorists were pulled down during the intervening night of April 26-27. The homes of Adnan Shafi Dar in the Zainapora area of Shopian, Amir Nazir in the Daramdora area of Pulwama, and Jameel Ahmad in the Naz Colony area of Bandipora were razed.
Officials contended that all the terrorists had links with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), with Dar being affiliated with its offshoot, The Resistance Front (TRF), which has claimed responsibility for the April 22 attack. Ahmad has reportedly been operating from Pakistan since 2017.
The action follows the demolition of six residences of suspected terrorists by security forces in South Kashmir since April 24. While security forces claimed that explosions were triggered by bombs stored at the houses, relatives of some of the terrorists have alleged that the explosives were planted by the forces.
Political leaders react
As the crackdown continued, Omar Abdullah in a post on X said: “After the Pahalgam terror attack, there must be a decisive fight against terrorism and its origin. People of Kashmir have come out openly against terrorism and the murder of innocent people, they did this freely & spontaneously.”
Mehbooba Mufti pointed out that the Centre must “tread with caution” and differentiate between terrorists and civilians while taking action. “It must not alienate innocent people, especially those opposing terror,” she said on X.