A Jammu and Kashmir Police head constable was killed after terrorists opened fire in Anantnag district on Wednesday, marking the first terror attack in the Union Territory since the deadly Pahalgam attack in April 2025.
The attack took place at around 12:30 pm near Lal Chowk in Anantnag, where Head Constable Aashiq Hussain Qureshi of the IR 3rd Battalion was deployed on Amarnath Yatra security duty, according to officials.
Qureshi, a resident of Beerwah in Budgam district, sustained critical injuries in the firing. He was immediately shifted to the Government Medical College Hospital, Anantnag, where doctors declared him dead. Medico-legal procedures are underway.
First Terror Attack Since Pahalgam Killings
The incident is the first reported terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir since April 22, 2025, when terrorists killed 26 civilians in the Pahalgam attack, one of the deadliest assaults in the region in recent years.
Security agencies have launched a massive search operation following Wednesday’s attack. The area around Lal Chowk has been cordoned off as security personnel continue efforts to trace the attackers.
Security Forces Launch Search Operation
Following the shooting, security forces sealed the area and initiated an intensive search operation to identify and apprehend those responsible. Officials have not yet disclosed the number of attackers or the group involved.
The incident comes as security arrangements remain heightened across Jammu and Kashmir due to the ongoing Amarnath Yatra, one of the country’s largest annual religious pilgrimages.
Political Leaders Condemn the Attack
CPI(M) Central Committee member and Kulgam MLA M.Y. Tarigami condemned the killing, describing it as a “heinous attack” that claimed an innocent life.
Expressing condolences, Tarigami said such acts of violence are deeply condemnable and extended his sympathies to the slain officer’s family, friends and colleagues.
Authorities are continuing investigations while security has been intensified in the area to prevent any further incidents.
