Only one local militant left in Kashmir after Anantnag attack, police say

Police say only one local terrorist remains active in Kashmir after the July 25, 2026 attack in Anantnag that killed a policeman in Lal Chowk. The individual is identified as 21‑year‑old Lateef Ahmad of Kulgam district. He acted with support from a handful of foreign militants who move across the border and change locations frequently, officials added. IGP Sujit Kumar said the higher parts of the Poonch‑Budgam corridor, which links the Pir Panjal valley to the Kashmir valley, are now under the watch of specially trained police units, a key move because the route is used by militants to slip from the Line of Control into the valley. Security teams are monitoring the technology the militants use to evade online tracking, though details were not disclosed. The police have tightened highway security after earlier terror incidents, noting that improvised explosive devices continue to be found. Kumar highlighted three major problems among local youth: drug abuse, involvement in cyber fraud and traffic violations, and urged the community to report drug‑related activity. In the current year, police have filed 1,651 cases under the NDPS Act, leading to 1,941 arrests of locals. Assets worth about ₹154 crore have been attached and ₹1.71 crore frozen. The force also logged roughly 12,385 cyber‑fraud complaints, many linked to young residents.

Context

The decline to a single local suspect reflects a broader shift in Kashmir’s militant landscape, while foreign operatives and drug money still pose security challenges.