In a major crackdown, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have detained nearly 1,300 people across the Valley for questioning as part of its efforts to dismantle militant support networks at multiple levels, officials said.
The massive crackdown that is underway for the last four days has targeted former overground workers, terror sympathisers, relatives of militants who are operating from Pakistan or Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
“Over the last few days nearly 1,300 suspects have been detained for questioning across the Valley,” a senior police officer told UNI.
Another police officer said this crackdown forms part of a sustained strategy of the law enforcing agency to dismantle the terror ecosystem, which provides funding, logistics, and local facilitation to active terrorists and cross-border handlers.
“Out of those detained, many suspects have been booked and lodged in sub-jail under preventive detention laws,” he added.
Sources said that massive crackdown was launched as there were certain inputs that militants based in PoK or Pakistan may try to disrupt peace in the region.
Not only crackdown, the police and security agencies have also been conducting multiple cordon and search operations (CASOs) in several districts to ensure peace.
Police have also intensified their crackdown by initiating action against individuals booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) who were found violating bail conditions. Police have moved for the cancellation of bail granted to several individuals across multiple districts of the Valley.
Meanwhile, the massive raids against “terror ecosystem” continued today across the Valley.
In Budgam district, the police today carried out a massive crackdown on the network of US-based Kashmiri separatist Ghulam Nabi Fai.
Fai is a native of Wadwan (Budgam) and was earlier this year declared a proclaimed offender by a local court under the UAPA.
Police said multiple searches were conducted to target Fai’s network, adding the accused heads the Washington-based Kashmiri American Council (KAC), backed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and is known for propagating Pakistan’s narrative on Kashmir.
In north Kashmir’s Baramulla, police carried out a series of synchronized operations aimed at dismantling the terror support network and reinforcing public security.
“During the operations, 16 properties linked with PoK/Pakistan-based Kashmiri natives were searched, resulting in 10 individuals being bound down under preventive provisions. As many as 23 locations associated with OGWs were raided, with 16 OGWs bound down for aiding unlawful activities. Six properties belonging to UAPA-accused individuals (currently on bail) were searched, and five OGWs were bound down,” police said today.
They said 11 SIM vendors were inspected to ensure strict compliance with subscriber verification norms and prevent misuse of telecom services. Besides, 175 vehicles were subjected to intensive checking at strategic nakas and checkpoints along the National Highway and other vital routes.
In Anantnag district, police carried out CASOs at various suspected locations in Anantnag. During the exercise, police teams, in close coordination with security forces, conducted extensive raids at Lal Chowk Anantnag targeting the residence of a JKNOP, and in the rear side area of District Jail Kheribal.
Police in Awantipora sub-district also carried out extensive cordon and search operations at multiple locations, including areas where a recent encounter took place and at the residences of the killed terrorists and their associates.
Similar raids were also carried out in Kulgam and Shopian districts.
