In the aftermath of one of the deadliest terror strikes in recent years, authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have intensified their crackdown on Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives. The April 22 attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran meadow claimed the lives of 26 civilians, sending shockwaves across the nation. In a swift and high-impact move, security forces demolished the homes of two suspected LeT militants, Adil Hussain Thokar and Asif Sheikh, believed to be central figures in the planning and execution of the carnage.
Explosions Rock Tral and Bijbehara
Late Thursday night, search operations in south Kashmir’s Pulwama and Anantnag districts turned dramatic. During intensive raids conducted by security personnel at the residences of Thokar and Sheikh, loud explosions erupted, leading to the complete destruction of both houses. While officials have refrained from issuing a formal statement on the demolition, media outlets in Srinagar have reported that the blasts appeared to be controlled detonations, possibly triggered by explosives planted beforehand or discovered during the searches. Locals described the scenes as “terrifying,” with shockwaves felt across neighborhoods and debris scattering over wide areas.
Asif Sheikh’s home in Tral, a known militancy hotspot in Pulwama, was the first to be leveled. Soon after, similar action followed at the Bijbehara residence of Adil Hussain Thokar in Anantnag. The police have remained silent on the specifics, though senior security officials indicated that both properties were being used as operational safe houses for LeT operatives.
Adil Thokar: From Cross-Border Trainee to Most Wanted Militant
Adil Hussain Thokar has emerged as a key figure in the current terror investigation. Intelligence agencies believe that Thokar traveled to Pakistan in 2018 through illegal channels, where he underwent intensive training in arms, explosives, and guerrilla warfare under Lashkar handlers. His return to the Valley marked the beginning of his involvement in facilitating cross-border infiltration. Investigators now claim Thokar acted as a primary local guide for two Pakistani nationals involved in the Pahalgam massacre.
The Anantnag Police have declared Thokar the most wanted individual in the region and announced a ₹20 lakh reward for information leading to his arrest. Security forces are said to be actively tracking his last known movements, while surveillance has been heightened across key entry and exit points in south Kashmir.
The Pakistani Hand: Hashim Musa and Ali Talha Identified as Perpetrators
Two Pakistani nationals, Hashim Musa and Ali Talha, have also been named as core members of the group responsible for the Pahalgam killings. According to officials with the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Musa, who goes by the alias Suleiman, has been active in the Kashmir Valley for over a year and is suspected to have led three previous attacks targeting security forces and migrant laborers. Described as “battle-hardened” and highly skilled, Musa is considered the operational commander behind the Baisaran attack.
Ali Talha, who entered the Valley shortly after Musa, is believed to be operating from the dense Dachigam forests on the outskirts of Srinagar. Intelligence sources indicate that both Musa and Talha were assisted by local overground workers and received logistical support from sympathizers embedded within civilian areas. Investigators are currently questioning several residents of South Kashmir believed to have supported the attackers in planning, transport, and communication.
Valley Under Tight Watch as Probe Widens
Security agencies are now combing through digital surveillance data, intercepted calls, and travel patterns to uncover the broader network that supported the Pahalgam plot. Multiple arrests of suspected overground workers have already been made, and several villages in Anantnag, Pulwama, and Shopian are under increased watch.
The tragic attack has reignited debates over foreign infiltration and the continued presence of local militant facilitators in Kashmir. As the region grapples with grief and heightened security, the focus remains firmly on dismantling the infrastructure that enabled one of the most horrific civilian-targeted terror strikes in recent memory.
