Anantnag: A Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) head constable deployed on security duty for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra was shot dead in a suspected terror attack in Anantnag on Wednesday, triggering a massive security operation across the district. Investigators suspect the attacker to be a foreign terrorist linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), while a proxy outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack through an unverified online post.
The incident took place at around 12:30 pm near the busy Clock Tower area in Lal Chowk, Anantnag. The victim has been identified as Head Constable Aashiq Hussain Qureshi, 35, a resident of Budgam and a member of the Indian Reserve Police’s 3rd Battalion. He was part of the security contingent deployed to safeguard the annual Amarnath Yatra.
According to police officials, the assailant approached the constable at close range and opened fire before fleeing the scene. Qureshi sustained multiple bullet injuries and was immediately rushed to the Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital in Anantnag. However, doctors declared him brought dead. Security sources said he suffered more than five gunshot wounds, resulting in severe blood loss.
Preliminary investigations have been aided by CCTV footage from the area. According to police, the footage shows a man wearing a black cap and carrying a bundle wrapped in saffron, white and green cloth. Investigators believe the bundle concealed an AK-47 assault rifle, which was allegedly used in the attack. Officials are analysing footage from nearby surveillance cameras to reconstruct the suspect’s movements and identify possible escape routes.
Security establishment sources initially suspected the attack may have been carried out by a newly recruited Lashkar-e-Taiba operative. However, subsequent assessments indicate that the shooter may be a foreign terrorist. A large-scale search operation has since been launched, with security forces intensifying checks and combing nearby areas in an effort to track down the attacker.
The killing comes during the Amarnath Yatra season, when security arrangements across Jammu and Kashmir are significantly strengthened to ensure the safety of pilgrims. Although the pilgrimage had been temporarily suspended due to heavy rainfall, security personnel remained deployed along the route and at key locations to maintain vigilance.
Following the attack, The Resistance Fighters (TRF), described by security agencies as a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility through a poster circulated online. In the statement, the outfit alleged that its operatives had carried out a targeted attack on Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel and claimed that the constable was shot multiple times. Authorities have not independently verified the authenticity of the claim.
