Terror strikes Anantnag, policeman killed in attack caught on CCTV

In a first major strike on security personnel after the gruesome Pahalgam attack, a head constable of Jammu and Kashmir Police, deployed on Amarnath yatra duty, was killed by an unidentified terrorist at point-blank range in the busy market area of Lal Chowk in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Wednesday. The lone terrorist managed to flee the area without facing any resistance even as CCTV footage of the attack also surfaced on various social media platforms.

The slain cop has been identified as Head Constable Aashiq Hussain Qureshi of the IRP 3rd Battalion. He hailed from the Beerwah area of Budgam and is survived by his wife and three children. The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow outfit of Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the attack in a social media post.

Eyewitness reports claimed that soon after the firing incident, which took place at around 12.30 pm, chaos prevailed in the busy market area. In the Lal Chowk area, the security personnel cordoned off the entire area and searches were launched in the crowded streets to track down the footprints of terrorists behind the attack. Director General of J&K, Nalin Prabhat, along with Inspector General of Police, Kashmir range, VK Birdi, and SSP Anantnag, Amod Ashok Nagpure, also visited the busy market area in Anantnag to supervise the ongoing operation.

According to a police spokesman, J&K police conducted extensive raids across multiple locations following the terror incident in Anantnag. During the operations, nearly 700 suspected overground workers were detained for questioning and verification. Similar operations were launched in Baramulla, where 178 OGWs were detained for questioning; 200 suspected OGWs were detained in Budgam; and 100 in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir. Similar drives were carried out in Pulwama and Shopian as well.

Later in the evening, senior police officers led by the DGP attended the wreath-laying ceremony of Constable Ashiq Hussain at District Police Lines (DPL), Anantnag and paid floral tributes to the fallen policeman.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the attack. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, while condemning the killing and said the “heinous act” would not go “unpunished”.

“I strongly condemn this cowardly attack. This heinous act will not go unpunished. JK Police and our security forces are on the ground and will bring those responsible to justice,” Sinha said in a post on X.

“Deeply saddened by the death in the line of duty of Head Constable Ashiq Hussain of IRP 3rd Battalion J&K Police. HC Hussain made the ultimate sacrifice in a cowardly terror attack in the Anantnag area of South Kashmir. I unequivocally condemn this attack and send my heartfelt condolences to the members of his family.