Police conduct raids at 26 locations in Kishtwar targeting militants’ network

KISHTWAR — Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday carried out a series of searches at 26 locations in Kishtwar district as part of an intensified crackdown on the militant network in the region.

Among the properties searched was the residence of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Muhammad Amin Bhat, better known as Jehangir Saroori.

Officials said the raids mainly focused on the houses of militants believed to be operating from Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir who are suspected of facilitating the smuggling of arms and ammunition into Jammu and Kashmir.

The operation followed similar searches conducted a day earlier at 15 locations in neighbouring Doda district.

Saroori, who joined the banned Hizbul Mujahideen in the 1990s, is regarded as one of the longest-surviving militants from the group. Police teams carried out the Saturday searches simultaneously across multiple parts of Kishtwar in a coordinated effort to disrupt the support network for militants.