J&K Police launch crackdown on ‘terror ecosystem’, over 500 picked up for questioning

The Jammu and Kashmir Police have launched a major crackdown on the “terror ecosystem” across the Kashmir Valley, picking up at least 500 people for questioning and conducting multiple cordon and search operations (CASOs) in several districts, officials said on Saturday.

Sources told The Tribune that the fresh action, aimed at targeting the network supporting terrorism, has been carried out at multiple levels across different parts of the Valley over the past 24 hours. Raids were conducted in Anantnag, Sopore, Kulgam, and Handwara among other districts, they added.

A senior police official said the operations involve not only picking up suspected overground workers (OGWs) and terror sympathisers but also questioning the associates and relatives of residents believed to be operating from across the border.

“We have picked up at least 500 people for questioning,” the official said.

According to police sources, the ongoing crackdown forms part of the “non-kinetic” measures being implemented to keep the situation in the Union Territory “under check.”

“There are inputs suggesting that some J&K nationals based across the border might attempt to carry out activities aimed at disturbing peace in the region. The present steps are preventive in nature,” a source said.

As part of the Valley-wide operation, several relatives and associates of Jammu and Kashmir residents based across the border have also been booked under preventive detention laws, officials confirmed.

In Sopore, police said action was taken “to dismantle the terror ecosystem, which provides funding, logistics and local facilitation to active terrorists and cross-border handlers.”

A police spokesperson said, “Many suspects have been booked and lodged in Sub-Jail under preventive detention laws, while security proceedings have been initiated against others to prevent them from aiding or abetting anti-national activities.”

Similar operations were carried out in South Kashmir’s Awantipora, where police said multiple CASOs targeted individuals “involved in facilitating, funding and promoting terror activities at the behest of their relatives based across the border.”

Awantipora Police added that several relatives and associates of J&K nationals operating from Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (JKNOP) have been booked under relevant legal provisions for their alleged involvement in unlawful activities, including providing logistical support and spreading propaganda.

In Kulgam district, police said a massive operation was launched to “dismantle the ecosystem of terror and subversive activities.” During the raids, police targeted the JKNOP network and picked up multiple individuals linked to it.

“During the operation, a number of relatives and associates of active JKNOP members were booked under relevant provisions of law for their continued involvement in anti-national activities, including logistical support, propaganda circulation and aiding recruitment. Digital devices and incriminating materials were also seized during the raids,” a police statement said.

In Anantnag, police said a series of search operations were carried out “as part of ongoing efforts to counter anti-national activities and maintain peace and law and order in the district.”

The fresh crackdown follows a security drive launched on Friday, during which police conducted special inspections of SIM card vendors in Shopian, Pulwama, Anantnag, Sopore, Awantipora, and Handwara to strengthen internal security and prevent the misuse of mobile communication services.