National: Security forces on Friday demolished the residence of Adil Thokar, also known as Adil Guree, a top Lashkar-e-Taiba operative accused of masterminding the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 people dead.
The targeted action in Guree village, located in Anantnag’s Bijbehara block, marks a significant escalation in the government’s efforts to dismantle terror infrastructure following the brutal assault on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir.
Guree, declared “most wanted” by Anantnag Police, is accused of orchestrating the ambush at Baisaran meadow, where gunmen opened fire on a group of vacationers, killing 25 Indian nationals and one Nepalese citizen. The attack has triggered widespread national outrage, with many calling for harsh retaliatory measures against those responsible. A bounty of Rs 20 lakh has been placed on Guree’s head for any information leading to his arrest.
Investigations have revealed that Guree had legally travelled to Pakistan in 2018, where he is believed to have undergone terror training before returning to India. Officials have also named two Pakistani nationals as key suspects in the attack, highlighting the cross-border dimensions of the incident.
In a parallel development, a gunbattle broke out in the Kolnar Ajas area of Bandipora district early Friday morning. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, a joint team of the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a search operation, during which contact was established with hiding militants. Two security personnel were injured in the ensuing firefight, and the operation was still underway at the time of reporting.
The Pahalgam attack has also led to swift diplomatic fallout. India has shut down the Integrated Check Post at Attari, suspended the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme for Pakistani nationals—granting them a 40-hour window to leave the country—and announced a sharp reduction in staff at both nations’ high commissions.
As protests erupt across cities demanding stronger government action, security has been intensified across Jammu and Kashmir. The manhunt for Adil Guree and other operatives involved in the massacre continues, with authorities vowing to bring all perpetrators to justice.
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