Srinagar, Jul 23 (KNO): Security forces have launched a massive Valley-wide crackdown and placed Kashmir on high alert after a policeman was killed in a terror attack in Anantnag, with over 3,500 suspected Over Ground Workers (OGWs) detained for questioning and intensified frisking, naka checking, vehicle inspections and search operations being carried out across all districts, sources said on Thursday.
Sources told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that security has been significantly tightened across the Valley, with forces intensifying surveillance, strengthening checkpoints, increasing vehicle checks and carrying out widespread search operations in several districts.
In a post on X, the Srinagar sector of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) said security across Kashmir had been put on high alert following the attack.
"Security forces have intensified surveillance, strengthened checkpoints and launched search operations to maintain law and order. Citizens are urged to remain vigilant and cooperate with security forces," the CRPF said.
The heightened security measures come a day after Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi was shot dead by terrorists at point-blank range in the busy Lal Chowk area of Anantnag on Wednesday afternoon.
Official sources said security agencies launched one of the largest counter-terror operations in recent months, detaining more than 3,500 suspected Over Ground Workers (OGWs) and terror sympathisers for questioning across Kashmir. OGWs is a term used for individuals accused of assisting or facilitating terrorist activities.
Intensive frisking, naka checking, vehicle inspections and cordon-and-search operations have been carried out across all districts of Kashmir as part of the security sweep, sources said.
As part of the ongoing crackdown, authorities on Thursday demolished the houses of two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists in south Kashmir's Anantnag district.
Officials told KNO that the demolished houses belonged to families of Aadil Ahmad Thokar of Guree village in Bijbehara and Haroon Ganai of Hassanpora.
The action came a day after the killing of the policeman in Anantnag, with officials describing the demolitions as part of efforts to dismantle terror networks and their support infrastructure.
"The demolition was part of the ongoing crackdown against terrorists and their support infrastructure in the district," officials said—(KNO)