Only one local terrorist active in Kashmir Valley, says IGP
Inspector General of Police Sujit Kumar identified Lateef Ahmad as the lone active local terrorist while noting persistent threats from Pakistani handlers.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Range Sujit Kumar said on Wednesday that only one local listed terrorist is currently active in the Kashmir Valley. Speaking at a press conference in Srinagar, Kumar identified the individual as Lateef Ahmad, a resident of South Kashmir affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
Kumar stated that the terrorist was allegedly involved in attacks on a policeman in Anantnag and on non-local labourers in Kulgam. He added that the local terrorist was being accompanied or supported by foreign terrorists, though he noted that a definite number of active terrorists in the Valley cannot be provided.
According to News18, Kumar said the threat from Pakistan-based terror handlers continues to persist and that police are receiving constant threat inputs. He mentioned that IEDs are being recovered every other day along the national highway. Security sources told WION that Pakistani handlers are making efforts to revive sleeper cells and re-establish networks, but these efforts have received little response due to a lack of local recruitment.
The IGP also shared data regarding a crackdown on drugs and financial fraud. Between January 1 and October 31, 2026, the Jammu and Kashmir Police registered 1,651 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and arrested 1,941 accused in the Kashmir Zone. Police recovered more than 1,711 kg of narcotic substances and seized or attached assets worth approximately Rs 154 crore linked to these cases.
Regarding financial crime, the Kashmir Zone Police received 12,385 financial fraud complaints between January and October 2026, involving Rs 54.66 crore. Police intervention helped recover or save approximately Rs 7.48 crore, which is 13.68 per cent of the total amount. A total of 93 FIRs were registered in connection with these financial fraud cases.