Reacting to the demolition of the houses of two active Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district following a terror attack, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah emphasized the importance of involving people to bring about positive change. He expressed concern that destroying houses would not address the underlying issues. Abdullah highlighted that punitive actions like house demolitions do not align with the Supreme Court’s directives against such measures.
Abdullah recalled a similar incident in Pahalgam in April 2025, where homes were bulldozed after an attack, prompting him to intervene with the Central government to halt the trend. He stressed that resorting to demolitions and mass arrests does not alleviate the situation but exacerbates it. The Chief Minister underscored the need to engage the public in combating violence for a sustainable resolution.
After the killing of a police officer in Anantnag, the residences of two LeT terrorists were razed, sparking debates on the effectiveness of such actions. Abdullah pointed out that investigations into past attacks revealed external involvement, emphasizing the importance of community support in ending the cycle of violence. He urged for a collective effort involving the police, Army, and the public to combat terrorism effectively.
Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti criticized the demolition as “collective punishment,” advocating for a more humane approach towards civilians. She condemned the attack on the police officer but cautioned against retaliatory measures that impact innocent families. Mufti called for a lawful and compassionate response from the authorities to uphold democratic values and protect civilians in conflict-affected regions.
