KashmirSecurity – Omar Abdullah Urges Restraint After Anantnag Terror Attack and Demolitions

KashmirSecurity – Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has appealed for a measured and lawful response following the Anantnag terror attack that claimed the life of a police officer, warning that public support remains essential in the long-term fight against terrorism. He said that while security forces have every reason to be angry, actions perceived as collective punishment could weaken public confidence and complicate efforts to restore lasting peace.

Omar Abdullah Questions Demolition Drive

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Abdullah referred to the demolition of the homes of two alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives in Anantnag, carried out just hours after Head Constable Ashiq Hussain was shot dead. The chief minister stressed that any action taken after such incidents must remain within the framework of the law and pointed to earlier observations made by the Supreme Court against summary punitive measures.

He recalled a similar phase after the April 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam, when several houses were demolished. According to Abdullah, he had then approached the Central government to discourage such actions, arguing that they risked creating resentment instead of improving security.

Attack Claims Life of Police Officer

Head Constable Ashiq Hussain, who had been assigned to security duties related to the Amarnath Yatra, was killed after a lone gunman opened fire at Lal Chowk in Anantnag on Wednesday afternoon. The incident triggered an extensive security response across south Kashmir.

Authorities later demolished the residences of Adil Thokar and Haroon Rashid Ganaie, both identified by officials as active militants linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba. The demolitions took place during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday as part of the security operation launched after the attack.

Public Cooperation Seen as Key to Ending Violence

Abdullah argued that security operations alone cannot permanently eliminate militancy. Drawing on his previous tenure as chief minister, he said that while agencies such as the police, the Army and the CRPF can contain threats, lasting peace depends on winning the confidence and cooperation of ordinary citizens.

He noted that after the Pahalgam attack, many residents openly condemned terrorism and expressed solidarity with the victims. According to him, a similar public reaction has emerged following the killing of Ashiq Hussain, reflecting widespread anger against those responsible for the attack.

The chief minister also referred to the investigation into the Pahalgam incident, stating that investigators had concluded that the attackers were not local residents but had entered the region from outside. He cautioned that widespread arrests or demolition campaigns would not necessarily improve the security situation and could instead deepen public dissatisfaction.

Concerns Over Large-Scale Detentions

Responding to reports that more than a thousand suspected over-ground workers were detained across the Kashmir Valley after Wednesday’s attack, Abdullah said such developments often generate frustration among the public. He maintained that involving local communities in the campaign against terrorism would produce more sustainable results than relying solely on coercive measures.

According to the chief minister, success against militancy depends not only on security operations but also on preserving public trust and ensuring that innocent people do not feel unfairly targeted.

Mehbooba Mufti Calls for Lawful Approach

People’s Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti also condemned the killing of Head Constable Ashiq Hussain, describing the attack as a serious and unacceptable act of violence. At the same time, she criticised the demolition of the homes of two alleged militants and the reported detention of large numbers of people, calling such measures a form of collective punishment.

In a post on X, Mufti said that if the Centre believes militancy has been reduced to minimal levels, authorities should adopt a more humane and legally sound approach toward civilians instead of pursuing retaliatory measures that could affect entire communities.

Officials have previously demolished properties linked to active militants in Kashmir, although such actions had largely paused over the past year as violence in the region had declined.