Over 500 Questioned 20 Detained as Security Forces Intensify Kulgam Attack Probe in Kashmir Valley

What Happened

More than 5:000 people have been questioned in South Kashmir following the November 11 attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) checkpoint in Kulgam district. At least 20 people have been detained for further interrogation as security agencies investigate the suspected network behind the attack. Three CRPF personnel were injured when gunmen opened fire on a checkpoint manned by the force's 46th Battalion at Akhran, near Mir Bazar, around 2.15 pm. The attackers fled after the firing. Investigators suspect that the assault involved a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) network comprising local operatives and foreign militants. They are examining whether local supporters provided the attackers with a hideout before the strike and helped them escape afterwards. Security agencies are also probing the suspected role of Mohammad Lateef Bhat, a 22-year-old from Kulgam who has been identified by police as the Valley's only active local militant. Investigators are trying to establish whether he has linked up with foreign LeT operatives or recruited local members. Most of those questioned have been released. Three people are suspected of acting as overground workers for the outfit. No formal arrests had been reported in connection with the attack at the time of the latest reports. Search operations and checks across South Kashmir have been intensified.

Why it matters

The security forces' intensified probe into the attack could disrupt militant networks in South Kashmir, potentially reducing local support for groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba. Mohammad Lateef Bhat, the only active local militant identified, faces scrutiny over his potential links to foreign operatives, which could impact recruitment efforts. If confirmed, his role might lead to targeted actions against militant infrastructure. Authorities aim to dismantle the suspected network by questioning local supporters and overground workers, though most questioned have been released without formal arrests.

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