Srinagar, April 26, 2025 — The Kashmir Valley is still reeling from the brutal April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 dead, mostly tourists, and security forces are now tearing through Srinagar, searching residences tied to suspected terrorist networks. The crackdown, part of a broader push to dismantle the infrastructure behind the Baisaran Valley massacre, has turned quiet neighborhoods into scenes of tense, methodical operations.
Armed with intelligence, joint teams of the Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force, and Jammu and Kashmir Police fanned out across multiple locations in the city on Saturday. They’re targeting homes of individuals believed to have links to the attackers, who gunned down civilians in what’s been called one of the deadliest strikes on tourists since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The searches, which kicked off in the early hours, are combing through everything—documents, electronics, anything that might point to the planners or supporters of the Pahalgam bloodbath.
The attack, carried out in the scenic Baisaran meadow, saw five militants, reportedly linked to the Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot The Resistance Front, open fire on unsuspecting visitors. The meadow, a postcard-perfect spot dubbed “mini Switzerland,” became a killing field as gunmen, dressed in military fatigues, targeted Hindu male tourists, checking identities and even forcing some to recite Islamic verses before shooting. The carnage claimed 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen, with over 20 others injured.
In response, security forces have upped the ante. On Saturday, they demolished the house of Zakir Ahmad Ganie in Kulgam district, a suspected key player in the attack. This came a day after razing the home of another alleged conspirator, Ahsan ul Haq Sheikh, in Pulwama. Both demolitions signal a no-holds-barred approach to crushing terror networks. In Shopian, another suspect’s residence in Chotipora village was reduced to rubble, part of the same relentless sweep.
The Srinagar raids are meticulous, with forensic teams and sniffer dogs scouring for clues. Checkpoints have sprouted across highways, and quick-reaction teams are now stationed near tourist hotspots and key installations. The Jammu and Kashmir Police have released sketches of three suspects—two Pakistani nationals, Hashim Musa and Ali Bhai, and a local, Abdul Hussain Thokar—offering a 20-lakh-rupee reward for information leading to their capture. The National Investigation Agency is also on the ground, collecting statements from victims’ families to piece together the attack’s planning.
The government’s response has been swift and sweeping. On April 23, India suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, shut down the Attari-Wagah border post, and revoked all visas for Pakistani nationals, except for specific exemptions. Diplomatic ties are fraying, with both nations slashing high commission staff to 30 by May 1. Pakistan denies involvement, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif calling for a neutral probe, but India’s leadership, from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Home Minister Amit Shah, has vowed to hunt down every perpetrator and their backers.
In Srinagar, the mood is grim. Markets are shuttered, and a bandh called by trade bodies and political groups has brought the city to a standstill, a silent protest against the violence. Candlelight vigils have lit up the night, from Srinagar’s Dal Lake to Amritsar’s markets, as communities mourn. The valley, once buzzing with tourists, is now a ghost of itself, with cancellations flooding travel agencies and flight prices plummeting.
Security forces remain on high alert, with Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi reviewing operations in Srinagar. A joint cordon-and-search operation, backed by helicopters, is scouring the Pir Panjal range, where the attackers are believed to have fled. Two terrorist associates were arrested in Kulgam on Saturday, and a hideout in the region yielded five AK-47s and ammunition.
The raids in Srinagar are ongoing, with no official word on arrests or seizures yet. The valley holds its breath as the hunt continues.