Policeman killed in terrorist attack in Anantnag

A policeman was killed in a terrorist attack in Anantnag town after bike-borne terrorists opened fire on him during patrol duty. Security forces launched a search operation and sealed the area amid heightened security arrangements for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra

Srinagar: A local policeman was killed on Wednesday in a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag town.

Official sources said the policeman was identified as Constable Aashiq Hussain of the IRP 3rd Battalion. He was on patrol duty in Anantnag town when he was attacked by suspected terrorists.

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“He was shifted to the hospital in a critical condition, where he succumbed to his injuries. The entire area has been cordoned off, and searches are now being conducted by the police and security forces. All entry and exit points have been effectively blocked,” sources said.

Sources said the attack was carried out by bike-borne terrorists, who opened fire from a moving vehicle, targeting the policeman on patrol duty.

The injured policeman was rushed to a hospital in a critical condition, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

The firing took place at around 12.30 p.m. at Lal Chowk in Anantnag town, where a police team was deployed on security duty.

The policeman, Aashiq Hussain, a resident of the Beerwah area in Budgam district, was initially rushed to the Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital in Anantnag in a critical condition, where he later succumbed to his injuries, the report added.

The incident comes amid heightened security arrangements across the Kashmir Valley for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra.

Wednesday’s attack in Anantnag is not the first in the Kashmir Valley in 2026, as there have been previous anti-terror operations and encounters this year, including recent incidents in districts such as Shopian.

In July, security forces neutralised a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander, Zakir Ahmad Ganie, during a five-day anti-militancy operation in the Meemandar orchard area of Shopian district. The joint operation was conducted by the Army’s Victor Force, the J&K Police and the CRPF.

The Shopian operation commenced on July 3 after surveillance cameras spotted the terrorists and concluded on July 8 following a tight cordon and intermittent gunfights. One LeT commander was killed, and arms and ammunition were seized. Authorities said the trapped militants hailed from the neighbouring Kulgam district.