Listen to this article:

Srinagar: Authorities demolished the houses of two alleged active Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) militants in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday – hours after a policeman on Amarnath Yatra security duty was shot dead at Lal Chowk, Anantnag.

Officials identified the militants as Adil Thokar, a resident of Thokerpora, Guree in Bijbehara, and Haroon Rashid Ganaie, a resident of Hassanpora. Both are among the local militants believed to be active in the Valley. Their families, however, maintained that the two had severed ties with them and had no connection with the households that were demolished. This is the second time forces have demolished Thokar’s house. His earlier house was also demolished last year after the Pahalgam attack.

According to neighbours, the army first arrived and “captured” Thokar’s family. “After that, two to three army vehicles came and photographed Thokar’s house as well as the surrounding houses. Then, around 10 pm, they returned and photographed the houses again,” a neighbour, who identified himself as Aarif, told The Wire.

“Then, around 11:30 pm, [several] vehicles arrived and at around 3:35 am, they [the forces] blasted the house,” he added.

A man walks past the damaged house belonging to Adil Thokar in Thokerpora, Guree, in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Photo: Umar Farooq

According to Aarif, no prior notice was given to residents to vacate their homes. “Around 8-10 structures have been........

© The Wire