Report: Team Pen Today | April 29, 2025 | Jammu & Kashmir
In the wake of the deadly April 22 militant attack in the Baisaran Valley of Pahalgam that left 26 people dead, security forces in Jammu & Kashmir have launched a sweeping crackdown. As part of the ongoing operations, at least 10 homes of suspected militant associates have reportedly been demolished across the region.
While no official statement has yet been issued by police or security agencies regarding the demolitions, families affected by the actions have spoken out, questioning the legality and morality of being punished for the alleged crimes of those they haven’t seen in years.
“A blast at midnight… Everything turned to rubble”
In Anantnag, the family of Adil Hussain Thokar — one of the three suspects whose sketches were released by police after the Pahalgam attack — recounts the night their home was destroyed.
Adil’s mother, Shehzada Bano, told Pen Today, “It was around 12:30 am when police and soldiers came. I pleaded with them, asking what our crime was, but they said nothing. They just told us to leave.”
She said her husband and two other sons have been taken into custody. “We were moved into another house. Then came the blast — a powerful explosion that flattened our home. We were told to stay 100 meters away. Some neighbors hid in mustard fields.”
Bano said Adil had gone missing in 2018 and hadn’t contacted the family since.
“Why punish us for someone who hasn’t even shown his face?”
A similar story unfolded in the village of Matlahama in Kulgam district, where the home of Zakir Ahmad was reduced to rubble. Zakir’s father, Ghulam Mohiuddin, said his son disappeared in 2023. After reporting the disappearance, authorities told him that Zakir had joined a militant outfit.
Mohiuddin said, “We were kept in a mosque while the house was demolished around 2:30 am. We had no chance to save anything. We fled with just the clothes on our backs. Our little daughter was wrapped in a pheran (a traditional Kashmiri cloak) to shield her from the cold.”
Zakir’s sister, Ruqayya, added, “To us, he died the day he left home. We’ve had no contact since. Yet now, my two other brothers are in police custody. Even my uncle’s only son has been detained.”
With tears in her eyes, she said, “Zakir has no support from this family. If he’s alive, catch him. Kill him. But why make us suffer?”
No official word, rising concerns
Despite the demolitions and detentions, no statement has been issued by the Jammu & Kashmir Police, the Indian Army, or the office of the Lieutenant Governor. Senior police officials have not responded to repeated media queries. As of now, details on detentions and legal processes remain undisclosed.
Political leaders speak out
Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti condemned the actions, saying, “Punish the guilty, yes. But why destroy homes? Why humiliate mothers and sisters? This is not justice — it is revenge.”
Omar Abdullah, also a former CM, posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Are these demolitions sanctioned by courts? Is this the rule of law or rule of fear?”
Justice or retribution? The human cost of security operations
The demolitions have reignited debate in the Valley over the balance between national security and individual rights. While the nation mourns and demands action against militants, families left homeless — often without any proven link to terror — are struggling with loss, humiliation, and uncertainty.
In Kashmir, the line between justice and collective punishment appears increasingly blurred.
