LoC remains tense; J&K parties caution against demolition drive

People stand near the debris of the house of Adil Thoker, linked to the Pahalgam terror attack, after its demolition by authorities in Bijbehara, in Anantnag district, Friday, April 25, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Kashmir on Sunday (April 27, 2025) witnessed growing opposition from several regional parties to the ongoing demolition drive of houses of terrorists, as 10 buildings were dismantled in controlled blasts by security forces after the Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 civilians dead. 

Meanwhile, the Line of Control (LoC) remained tense with the Indian and Pakistani armies exchanging small arms fire for the third straight day. The situation has forced the residents along the border to vacate underground bunkers close to the international border in Jammu and the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts.

In north Kashmir, a civilian was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Kupwara.

An Army spokesman said Pakistan initiated unprovoked fire across the LoC in the areas opposite Tutmari Gali and Rampur Sectors. “Our troops responded effectively with appropriate small arms fire,” the Army said.

In the valley, the house of Jameel Ahmad Shergojri on Sunday became the tenth house of terrorists – affiliated to Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Muhammad and Hizbul Mujahideen – to be demolished by the security forces after the Pahalgam attack. Officials said Shergojri, a resident of Bandipora’s Naaz Colony, was suspected to have joined the terrorist ranks in 2016. The blast damaged one portion of the three-storey house. The occupants were later seen salvaging their belongings.

Referring to these incidents, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, “People of Kashmir have come out openly against terrorism and the murder of innocent people, they did this freely and spontaneously. It’s time to build on this support and avoid any misplaced action that alienates people. Punish the guilty, show them no mercy but don’t let innocent people become collateral damage.”

Mr. Abdullah, however, sought “a decisive fight against terrorism and its origin”, while referring to the Pahalgam terror attack. 

Former J&K Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti called for “distinguishing between militants and innocent civilians”. “The Government of India must tread with caution. It must not alienate innocent people, especially those opposing terror. I appeal to the government to direct the authorities to take care that innocent people are not made to feel the brunt as alienation aids terrorists’ goals of division and fear,” she said.

Demanding “transparent investigations and fair treatment to prevent the wrongful targeting of innocent individuals”, Ms. Mufti said, “Justice and trust are the strongest weapons against terrorism.”

Awami Ittehad Party leader and MLA Langate Sheikh Khurshid cautioned that the “collective punishment to any section of society is not the solution”. “Such actions should not be supported in any democratic or civilised society. The homes existed 20 to 30 years long before someone joined militancy. We all advocate justice and fairness,” Mr. Khurshid said.

Hurriyat chairman and Kashmir’s chief cleric Umar Farooq highlighted that Kashmir has collectively condemned the heinous crime at Pahalgam. “It’s imperative to bring its perpetrators to justice. Indiscriminate arrests and videos circulating on social media of demolition of houses and neighbourhoods are disturbing and distressing. I urge the authorities, in seeking justice for the innocent victims, not to punish innocent Kashmiri families,” he said.

In north Kashmir, Ghulam Rasool Magray, 45, was shot inside his home in Kupwara’s Kandi Khas by unknown gunmen around 10 p.m. on Saturday night. He died of injuries on Sunday morning.

“It’s another terror attack after Pahalgam. It’s sad that the killing of Magray was not taken seriously by the local administration. No one from the police and civil administration visited the family even after 12 hours of the attack,” Mr. Khurshid said.

Magray’s brother had reportedly crossed into Pakistan Occupied Kashmir in the 1990s. He was living with his 80-year-old mother.

In another incident in Bandipora district, Rafiq Ahmad, brother of Altaf Lalli, who was recently killed in an encounter, claimed his brother was taken into custody by the J&K Police on April 22 around 6 p.m. “When I spoke to my younger brother Altaf, he was lodged at the Ajas Police Station. He was asking for blanket and clothes,” Mr. Ahmad said.

Lalli was found dead in an encounter with the security forces at Kulnar Bazipora, Ajas on April 24. Officials described him as “a terrorist associate”. Lalli’s brother, Talib, is a militant and remains behind bars for the past 12 years. Lalli is survived by wife and two children. The killing had triggered street protests in his locality. The family alleged that the body of Lalli was not allowed to be buried in Bandipora and was shifted to far off Handwara for burial.

The J&K Police on Sunday detained social media handlers for “spreading false information regarding the Ajas encounter”. “The criminalised act of all those involved persons has endangered the country’s security scenario and has a tendency of creating law and order problems in the region,” the police said.