India Begins Crackdown After Pahalgam Attack

According to the reports on Friday (25 April), India has initiated a major counter-terror operation in response to the Tuesday (22 April) Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. In a significant breakthrough, top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Altaf Lalli was killed in an encounter in Bandipora, Jammu and Kashmir on Friday (25 April). The operation, based on precise intelligence, was jointly conducted by the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

The encounter began when contact was established with terrorists during a search operation in Bandipora. A firefight ensued, during which one terrorist was believed to have been injured. Two police personnel, part of a senior officer’s security detail, also sustained injuries. Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi visited Srinagar to review the progress and oversee the broader security measures being taken.

In a parallel development, security forces and local authorities demolished the homes of two terrorists linked to the Pahalgam attack. The residence of Adil Hussain Thoker in Bijbehara was destroyed using IEDs, while the house of Asif Sheikh in Tral was brought down by bulldozers. Thoker is suspected to have assisted Pakistani terrorists in planning and executing the deadly assault in Baisaran Valley.

The Anantnag Police have released sketches and announced a reward of Rs 20 lakh for information on Thoker and two Pakistani nationals, Ali Bhai and Hashim Musa. These men, part of a group of 4–5 attackers, are believed to have emerged from a pine forest and opened fire indiscriminately on tourists with AK-47 rifles. The search for them is ongoing as security forces continue their intensified operation across the region.

References

• India Strikes Back as Top Lashkar Commander Killed in Bandipora Encounter
• LeT Terrorist Associate Killed, Two Cops Injured In Ongoing Gunfight In Bandipora