Srinagar Police launched synchronized raids on 13 residences throughout the city on Wednesday, zeroing in on suspected overground workers (OGWs) and associates of outlawed terrorist organizations. This intelligence-fueled crackdown forms a critical salvo in the ongoing battle to shatter the support structures fueling insurgency in the region's bustling summer capital.

Drawing from verified tips and surveillance data, joint teams of police and security personnel swept through key localities including Lal Bazar, Noorbagh, Suthsu Kalan, Kathidarwaza, Sekidafar, Soiteng, New Theed, and Raniwari. Operating under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the operation targeted those allegedly aiding banned groups through logistics, shelter, and reconnaissance.

Prominent among the raided were Asrar Ahmad Bala of Omer Colony in Lal Bazar, Shahbaz Ahmad Bhat from Palpora Noorbagh, and Fayaz Ahmad Ganie in Suthsu Kalan. The net widened to include Burhan Nazir at Beeroni Kathidarwaza, Sajid Majeed Shah in Nowpora Sekidafar, plus Ashiq Bashir Najar and Umer Adil Dar from Soiteng. New Theed saw multiple hits on Shabir Ahmad Ganie, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, Mohd Altaf Ganie, another Fayaz Ahmad Ganie, and Manzoor Ahmad Bhat. Wrapping up the list was Ahsan Ahmad Bhat, known as Munna, whose Indra Nagar address in Srinagar was searched despite his roots in Mughal Mohalla Raniwari.

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A police spokesman declared these efforts essential to "dismantle the terror ecosystem and curb unlawful activities," highlighting raids conducted with full legal backing. Executive magistrates and neutral witnesses oversaw proceedings, while senior J-K Police officers directed the show to maintain integrity and avoid procedural lapses.

The hunts yielded potential goldmines: documents detailing financial trails, digital devices loaded with encrypted chats, smartphones possibly linked to handlers across the border, and other paraphernalia tying suspects to terror plots. Officials describe OGWs as the backbone of militancy, handling everything from ferrying weapons via drones to radicalizing youth online, making their neutralization a top priority.

This action fits into a larger pattern of escalation in J-K's counter-terror framework. Since January, security forces have eliminated over 50 militants in encounters, seized arms caches, and disrupted modules in districts like Rajouri and Poonch. Recent NIA investigations have exposed Pakistan-based funding channels using hawala networks and crypto, often coordinated by these very OGWs in urban pockets like Srinagar.

Local reactions vary. Some residents applaud the moves for bolstering safety amid rising tourist inflows, while others claim overreach disrupts daily life. Security analysts argue such ops are vital post the 2019 changes, weakening hybrid terrorists who blend into crowds.

As lab experts analyze the seized items forensically, more arrests loom. The raids signal unwavering resolve from authorities to preempt attacks, especially with winter approaching when infiltration attempts spike. In a Valley striving for normalcy, this operation could sever critical links, paving the way for lasting peace and exposing deeper conspiracies threatening India's unity. J-K Police vows continued vigilance, urging citizens to report suspicious activities and join the fight against terror's insidious spread.

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