Authorities Demolish Homes of Lashkar-e-Taiba Commanders Across Kashmir

On Friday night, government authorities in Kashmir did act, quickly and decisively. They destroyed the homes of some of the top leaders within the terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). This operation addresses bad security coming from these people. Instead, they have continued to actively partake in anti-national activities, wreaking havoc on the peace of the restive region.

Among the extremists affected was Shahid Ahmad Kuttay, an infamous LeT commander from Chotipora in Shopian. Through this enforcement against one of the most heinous forms of terrorism, his home was demolished. Kuttay has figured in many such operations aimed at coordinating multiple anti-national ops over the last three-four years. Importantly, he had legally cleared a background check to visit Pakistan in 2018, where he received terror training. His recent role has made him a target of the country’s intelligence agencies, especially for his contribution in bolstering militant networks.

Another notorious figure, Ahsan, who underwent terror training in Pakistan in 2018, has sparked concerns upon re-entering the valley. His return has aggravated even the defense and security establishment, as the threat from returnees is acute.

In Pulwama, security forces also demolished the house of Haris Ahmad, another active Lashkar terrorist since 2023. His house was destroyed in an explosion that government officials now believe is directly associated with the activities of terrorists. Further, Ehsan Ahmad Sheikh, a local terrorist commander associated with LeT, who was active since June 2023, met the same fate. His fertile double-storey home was razed to the ground deep inside the Pulwama district.

The authorities did not stop there. Adil Thokar, aka Adil Guree, another operative, whose house was destroyed in Guree, Bijbehara. Thokar’s role was pivotal in the vicious attack on April 22. This latest engagement cements his importance as the connective tissue within the militant ecosystem.

The demolition of these properties further demonstrates the government’s ironclad resolve to fight terrorism. It doesn’t just provide for the exclusion of bad actors. A deadly blast attributed to ISIS-facilitated terrorist activities levelled Asif Sheikh’s home in Monghama, Tral. This violent act should remind all of us of this constant danger throughout the region.