A family member mourns beside the Tricolour-draped coffin of Head Constable Ashiq Hussain, who was killed in a terrorist attack, in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, on July 22, 2026. Photo: PTI
J&K Police launch Valley-wide raids, detain over 1,000 after Anantnag cop murder
Sweeping counter-terrorism operations hit six districts as security forces track down the killers of a head constable at Lal Chowk
Srinagar, July 22 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday launched a massive anti-terror crackdown spread over several districts in the Valley to track down the assailant who shot dead a policeman in Anantnag district earlier in the day.
More than 1,000 suspected overground workers (OGWs) associated with terrorist groups have been rounded up in six districts, with 700 detained in Srinagar alone, for questioning in connection with the killing of Head Constable Ashiq Hussain at Lal Chowk in Anantnag district, officials said.
The crackdown began soon after Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat visited the attack site for first-hand assessment of the situation, they added.
Anti-terror operations have been launched across Anantnag, Budgam, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian and Srinagar districts, with over 1,000 suspected OGWs detained within hours of the terror attack.
A spokesperson of Srinagar police said the operation, aimed at dismantling the ecosystem supporting terrorism, began with extensive district-wide raids following the terror incident in Anantnag.
"The coordinated operations, carried out on the basis of credible intelligence and as part of an ongoing investigation, resulted in detention of nearly 700 suspected OGWs for questioning and verification in accordance with established legal procedures," the spokesperson said.
He said the operations have been undertaken with the objective of identifying and neutralising networks that provide logistical, financial, communication, transportation, shelter, and other forms of support to terrorist organisations.
In Pulwama, police established mobile check-points at several locations to prevent movement of subversive elements, officials said. Additional Superintendent of Police Shafat Najar supervised frisking and search operations.
In Shopian, police carried out an extensive security and counter-terrorism operation to prevent any attempt to disturb peace, and maintain a robust security grid, an official said.
In Budgam district, police launched district-wide preventive raids following the terrorist attack in Anantnag. "Over 200 suspects including OGWs, miscreants and narco-offenders were detained for questioning and verification," an official said. PTI
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