In a significant crackdown on terror networks, the Jammu and Kashmir Police conducted extensive raids on multiple locations in the Kishtwar district. The operation, carried out on Saturday, August 9, 2025, targeted the residences of alleged terrorists, including that of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Mohammad Amin Bhat, also known as "Jehangir Saroori".

The raids, involving multiple police teams, simultaneously targeted 26 houses across Kishtwar, Chatroo, Dachhan, and Atholi. These locations included hideouts and residential premises of terrorists and their associates. The police aimed to disrupt the local support network for cross-border terrorists, gather actionable intelligence related to anti-national activities, and deter individuals from supporting or sheltering such elements.

Mohammad Amin Bhat alias "Jehangir Saroori," whose house was among those searched, is considered one of the longest surviving terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, having joined Hizbul Mujahideen in the 1990s. Besides Bhat, the raids focused on the homes of terrorists operating from Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, who are involved in smuggling arms and ammunition across the border.

The operation in Kishtwar follows similar searches conducted in the nearby Doda district a day earlier, where 15 locations were targeted. These actions are part of intensified surveillance operations aimed at detecting and dismantling sleeper cells and support networks that aid terrorist activities in the Chenab Valley region.

Authorities have stated that these raids are part of a sustained counter-terror strategy aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure and Over Ground Workers (OGWs) networks. The police have reiterated a zero-tolerance stance against terrorism, warning that anyone found involved in aiding or harboring terrorists will face strict legal action.

While the raids aimed to disrupt terrorist activities and gather intelligence, there have been no reports of any arrests or seizures. The security forces remain committed to neutralizing terrorist threats and maintaining national security in the region.

In related news, two soldiers, Lance Naik Pritpal Singh and Sepoy Harminder Singh, recently lost their lives during counter-terror operations in the Kulgam district of South Kashmir. The Chinar Corps of the Indian Army paid tribute to their sacrifice. Additionally, the Baramulla Police busted a terrorist hideout in the Gogaldara-Danwas forest, recovering a pistol, ammunition, a grenade, and medical supplies.