Over 500 Youth Detained in South Kashmir as Security Forces Intensify Search for Terror Suspects

Security forces have intensified search operations in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir after three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were injured in a terror attack earlier this week. Police have detained more than 500 youths for questioning over the past three days, The Indian Express has learnt.

With the Valley’s only active terrorist, Lateef Ahmad Bhat, back under the security agencies’ scanner, investigators are trying to determine whether he has joined a group of foreign Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants or established a new module comprising local recruits.

Over the past three days, police have detained more than 500 youths from different parts of South Kashmir, particularly Kulgam, for questioning. Police sources said that most of those detained have been released after questioning, while some remain in custody.

The intensified operations are part of efforts to identify the people involved in the attack on CRPF personnel and establish whether a wider militant network is operating in the region.

Security agencies are also examining possible local support networks that could be providing militants with shelter, logistical assistance or information about security force movements.

Bhat’s suspected activities have become a particular focus of the investigation. Officials are attempting to establish his current associations and whether he is operating independently or coordinating with foreign militants affiliated with the LeT.

The possibility of a newly established local militant module has also prompted security agencies to question young people in the area and gather intelligence about potential recruitment activities.

The latest crackdown comes amid heightened security concerns in South Kashmir, where security forces have been maintaining surveillance and conducting searches to prevent militant activity.

While the majority of those detained have reportedly been released, the continued questioning of some individuals indicates that investigations into the attack and the suspected militant network remain underway.

Security agencies are expected to continue search operations in Kulgam and other parts of South Kashmir as they work to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack and identify those responsible.