Just one local terrorist active in Kashmir, but terror threat remains: IGP Sujit Kumar

The militancy graph in Kashmir has dropped to one local recruit but the inputs on impending attack keep security forces on an alert mode, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sujit Kumar said on Thursday (November 5, 2026).   

“One terrorist who orchestrated the Anantnag attack on [July 25, 2026] remains the lone active local in Kashmir. He is supported by a few foreign terrorists, who keep on transiting from one point to another and constantly change their location. We are tracking them,” said IGP Kumar.  

The police identified Lateef Ahmad, 21, a resident of south Kashmir’s Kulgam, as the terrorist behind the Anantnag attack, which left one policeman dead in Anantnag’s Lal Chowk. 

IGP Kumar said the upper reaches of the Poonch-Budgam axis, connecting the Pir Panjal valley with the Kashmir valley, “was being dominated by specialised policemen”. The route is considered key for terrorists to transit from Line of Control (LoC) in the Pir Panjal valley into the Kashmir valley.  

“Policemen were dominating the heights. Security forces were taking all measures to track the foreign terrorists,” said IGP Kumar.

Refusing to divulge details on the technology employed by the hiding terrorists to bypass online tracking and communicate across the border, IGP Kumar said, “Whatever technology is being employed, they are on our radar.” 

Regarding the stringent security protocols on the highway in Kashmir, Mr. Kumar said these protocols were put in place after previous terror incidents. “Threats remain there. Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) are being recovered. This is a sensitive issue and all considerations are being factored in,” said Mr. Kumar. 

Meanwhile, IGP Kumar identified three major challenges involving local youth, including drug abuse, involvement in cybercrime and violation of traffic rules. “I appeal to youth and elders to come forward and report cases of drug abuse. The police will stand by them and extend all support,” said the police officer.

This year, the police have arrested 1941 locals in 1651 cases under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. “Narco kingpins, whether here or across the border, distribute the earnings through overground workers to push terrorism,” said Mr. Kumar.

The police have attached properties worth ₹154 crore of the accused, and ₹1.71 crore was frozen in bank accounts. Mr. Kumar said the police received around 12385 complaints of cyber fraud, “with many local youths involved in it”.