Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir demolished the houses of two active Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists in Anantnag district late Wednesday night, 22nd July, hours after a police head constable was killed in a terror attack. Officials said the move is part of the security forces’ ongoing action against terrorism and its support network in the Valley.
#BREAKING: Two houses of Pakistan sponsored terrorists Adil Thokar and Haroon Rashid Ganaie have been demolished overnight in Kashmir after Anantnag terror attack killed a cop. Security forces have demolished the newly constructed house of Hizbul terrorist Adil Thokar. Good move. pic.twitter.com/WcjpvvPfaG
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) July 23, 2026
The houses belonged to Adil Thokar from Guree in Bijbehara and Haroon Rashid Ganaie from Hassanpora. Both have been identified by the security establishment as active LeT terrorists. Officials said the newly built house of Adil Thokar was also demolished during the overnight operation.
Policeman killed during Amarnath Yatra security duty
The action came after Head Constable Aashiq Hussain Qureshi, 35, was shot by a lone terrorist at Lal Chowk in Anantnag on Wednesday afternoon. He was on patrol duty as part of the security arrangements for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra. Despite efforts to save him, he later died from his injuries.
Following the attack, security forces sealed the area and launched a large search operation to find the attacker. More personnel were deployed across the district, and checking was increased at important routes and entry points. Officials said the investigation is continuing to identify and arrest those involved.
Part of a larger anti-terror drive
Sources said the demolition of the two houses is aimed at disrupting the support system used by terrorists in the Kashmir Valley. The crackdown is part of a wider effort to weaken terror networks and prevent them from operating freely.
Officials pointed out that houses linked to active terrorists had been demolished in Kashmir in the past as well. However, such operations had almost stopped over the last year as the number of terror-related incidents had come down.
First major attack after Pahalgam incident
The killing of the policeman comes at a time when security has been tightened across Jammu and Kashmir after Operation Sindoor. The operation was launched by India following the Pahalgam terror attack last year, in which 26 people were killed, and targeted terrorist infrastructure.
Officials are still investigating the motive behind the latest attack. The killing of the head constable is being seen as the first major terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir since the Pahalgam attack, making it a significant security challenge during the ongoing Amarnath Yatra.
