Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday cautioned against punitive actions such as demolishing houses following terror incidents, saying that lasting peace in the region cannot be achieved without taking people along. His remarks came after authorities carried out bulldozer action against the houses of two alleged terrorists in Anantnag.

Abdullah said he understood the anger within the police and security forces after the killing of a policeman, but stressed that such actions should follow legal procedures. He referred to a Supreme Court order against summary demolitions and warned that retaliatory measures could worsen the situation instead of resolving security challenges.

“I understand the anger of the police, but the Supreme Court has issued an order stating that summary action of this kind should not be taken,” Abdullah told reporters. He added that a similar situation had emerged after the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025, when some houses were demolished, prompting him to approach the central government.

The comments came after authorities demolished the houses of two alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists in Anantnag district following the killing of head constable Ashiq Hussain. The police officer, who was deployed for Amarnath Yatra security duty, was shot dead by a suspected terrorist at Lal Chowk in Anantnag on Wednesday afternoon.

The houses of alleged terrorists Adil Thokar and Haroon Rashid Ganaie were reportedly demolished during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. Authorities have maintained that such actions are part of measures against individuals accused of involvement in terrorism-related activities. Abdullah, however, argued that collective punishment and large-scale arrests would not help eliminate violence. He said that based on his previous experience as chief minister, security measures alone cannot end the cycle of violence unless local communities are involved in efforts to restore peace.

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“Demolishing houses or making thousands of arrests will not improve the situation; in fact, it will only worsen it,” Abdullah said. The chief minister also referred to the investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack, saying that authorities found that no local resident was involved and that the attackers had come from outside the region. He used this example to argue against actions that could alienate ordinary citizens.

Abdullah’s remarks highlight the continuing debate over the government’s approach towards counter-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir. While security agencies have supported strict action against those accused of aiding terrorism, critics have raised concerns over the impact of demolitions and other punitive measures on public sentiment.

The Anantnag attack has once again brought security challenges in the region into focus, with authorities intensifying operations against suspected terror networks. At the same time, political leaders have called for a balanced approach that combines security measures with efforts to maintain public trust.

As investigations into the killing of the police officer continue, the issue of how authorities respond to terror-related incidents remains a key point of discussion in Jammu and Kashmir. Abdullah has reiterated that peace efforts must involve the people of the region while ensuring action against those responsible for violence.

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