Kashmir Has Only One Active Local Terrorist, Says IGP Sujit Kumar
· India · Times of India, The Hindu, Indian Express
Jammu and Kashmir police chief Sujit Kumar said on Thursday that the Valley now has just one active local terrorist, identified as Mohammad Lateef Bhat of Kulgam district. No local resident has joined terrorist ranks this year, Kumar said, adding that recruitment has completely dried up. Bhat, who joined last year, carries a Rs 15 lakh reward for his arrest and is accused of killing a head constable and two migrant workers in July. Security forces are tracking a small number of foreign terrorists believed to be assisting him, though their exact count cannot be established. The lone local militant's emergence ended a months-long lull since the Pahalgam attack in April 2025 that killed 25 tourists and a pony operator. Police also reported 1,651 NDPS cases, 1,941 arrests, and seizure of 1,711 kg of contraband this year, with properties worth Rs 154 crore attached.
Why it matters
The near-elimination of local recruitment marks a significant shift in Kashmir's security landscape and could reduce civilian casualties and disruptions such as highway closures that have affected ambulances and students. Sustained pressure on the last local operative and foreign militants will test whether this trend holds.
Read the original report — Times of India
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