G P Singh on Ground: Security Review, Manhunt Intensify After Kulgam Strike
Srinagar| Nov, 14:Two days after terrorists opened fire on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) deployment in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, injuring three personnel, Director General CRPF Gyanendra Pratap Singh on Friday visited the attack site and reviewed the security situation amid an intensified manhunt for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Mohammed Lateef Bhat, suspected to be among those involved in the assault. The CRPF chief’s visit comes as security agencies have stepped up counter-insurgency operations across south Kashmir, with investigators examining the circumstances surrounding Wednesday’s attack, the movement of the suspected terrorists and the possible network that facilitated their operation and escape. Singh visited the area where the attack took place at NowporaAkhran near Mir Bazar in Kulgam and took stock of the security arrangements. He also interacted with field officers of the CRPF and reviewed the operational response following the attack, which has triggered heightened security measures across several districts of the Valley.The Director General subsequently interacted with officers of the CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police at Sadura in neighbouring Anantnag district. Discussions focused on the prevailing security situation, coordination between security agencies and measures to intensify counter-insurgency operations in the Valley. According to the CRPF, the visit was aimed at assessing the ground situation and strengthening operational preparedness following the attack on its personnel. The CRPF chief also visited the Army’s 92 Base Hospital at Badami Bagh cantonment in Srinagar, where one of the injured personnel is undergoing treatment. Singh interacted with the injured jawan, enquired about his health and treatment and wished him a speedy recovery. In a statement posted on X, the CRPF said its Director General met the injured personnel and assured all possible assistance to him and his family.The injured jawan sustained serious bullet injuries during the attack and was shifted to the Army hospital for specialised treatment. The condition of the other two injured personnel was also being monitored.
LeT Terrorist Lateef Bhat Under Scanner: Meanwhile, the investigation into Wednesday’s attack has increasingly focused on Mohammed Lateef Bhat, a Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist believed to be active in south Kashmir. Investigators suspect Bhat’s involvement after injured CRPF personnel reportedly recognised him from his photograph. His suspected presence among the attackers has become a key lead in the ongoing investigation, prompting security agencies to intensify their efforts to establish his role and trace his whereabouts. Officials are examining the possibility that Bhat was accompanied by other terrorists during the assault and that the attackers may have received logistical support from an existing network operating in the area. Bhat is also suspected of involvement in earlier attacks in south Kashmir, including the July assault on two migrant labourers in Kelam near Akhran village and the killing of a police head constable in Anantnag district during the same month. Security agencies are investigating whether the Kulgam attack was part of a broader pattern of targeted assaults in the region and whether the same terrorist network was involved in previous incidents. Police have reportedly described Bhat as the last surviving local terrorist active in the Valley, with security agencies suspecting that he is operating with the assistance of a few foreign terrorists. The investigation is also focusing on the movement of the suspected attackers before and after the shooting, possible hideouts and individuals who may have assisted them. Officials believe that identifying the support structure would be crucial to dismantling the network and preventing further attacks on security personnel and civilians. However, the precise number of terrorists involved, their identities and the extent of the support network are yet to be officially established.
How The Attack Unfolded: The attack took place at around 2:15 pm on November 11 when two to three suspected terrorists opened fire on a CRPF naka party near Akhran Bridge at Mir Bazar in Kulgam district. The deployment was manned by personnel of the CRPF’s 46th Battalion when the attackers suddenly fired upon them. Three personnel sustained bullet injuries in the assault. They were identified as Head Constable Somveer Singh and Constables Rakesh Dass and Santosh Chandru. One of the personnel suffered serious bullet injuries to the abdomen and spine and was shifted to the Army’s 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar for specialised medical attention. The other two personnel sustained injuries to their limbs. Following the attack, security forces launched search operations in the surrounding areas to track down the suspected terrorists. The incident took place in an area that has witnessed security operations in the past, and the proximity of the attack site to Akhran village has prompted investigators to examine possible local support and the movement of suspected terrorists in the area. The fact that the attackers managed to fire upon a security deployment and escape has also brought the security arrangements along vulnerable stretches under scrutiny.Investigators are examining the circumstances in which the attackers approached the naka party, the direction from which they opened fire and the possible route used to escape.
NIA Team Examines Attack Site: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has also visited the attack site to collect forensic evidence and examine material that could help reconstruct the sequence of events. The agency’s examination is expected to assist investigators in establishing the nature of the attack, the weapons used and other relevant evidence. Forensic examination of the site could provide important clues regarding the number of attackers, their firing positions and the sequence of events leading to the injuries suffered by the CRPF personnel. Investigators are also expected to examine available material and inputs gathered during the initial investigation to establish the possible involvement of the suspected terrorist network. The involvement of the NIA has added another layer to the investigation as agencies seek to establish the broader circumstances behind the attack and identify those responsible.
Security agencies are also examining whether the incident involved any prior reconnaissance of the CRPF deployment or knowledge of the movement and positioning of personnel.
Valley-Wide Security Tightened: In the aftermath of the attack, security has been significantly tightened across Kashmir, with police and paramilitary forces intensifying frisking and checking operations at major intersections, market areas, highways and other vulnerable locations. In Srinagar, additional security personnel have been deployed at important junctions and entry and exit points, with vehicles being stopped for checking and commuters subjected to frisking and identity verification. The heightened security arrangements are aimed at preventing the movement of suspected terrorists and ensuring that no further attacks take place while the search for the Kulgam attackers continues. Additional checkpoints have been established at strategic locations, while armoured vehicles and security personnel have been deployed along important roads and sensitive stretches. Security personnel are conducting checks of vehicles, passengers and pedestrians, with particular attention being paid to vulnerable locations and routes that could potentially be used by suspected terrorists. The measures are not confined to Kulgam and Anantnag, as security agencies have stepped up vigilance across other districts as well. Officials said the heightened deployment was part of precautionary arrangements following the attack and would continue in coordination with other security agencies. The increased checking has also been visible at several busy intersections and commercial areas in Srinagar, where commuters are being subjected to verification as part of the intensified security grid.
Coordination Among Forces Under Focus: The CRPF chief’s interaction with field officers in Anantnag assumes significance amid efforts to strengthen coordination between the paramilitary force and Jammu and Kashmir Police. Counter-insurgency operations in the Valley involve coordination among the Army, CRPF, Jammu and Kashmir Police and other security agencies, particularly in areas where intelligence inputs point towards the movement of suspected terrorists. The discussions at Sadura focused on the operational situation and the way ahead for intensified counter-insurgency measures. The attack has also underscored the continuing security challenges faced by personnel deployed at routine naka points and other security installations, which remain important components of the counter-insurgency grid. Security officials are examining the need for enhanced vigilance, improved coordination and more effective monitoring of vulnerable deployments. The manhunt in Kulgam is continuing, with security agencies pursuing leads to establish the identities of all those involved in the attack and trace their possible support network. The immediate priority remains to apprehend the suspected attackers, establish the circumstances surrounding the assault and prevent any attempt by the terrorist network to carry out further attacks. With the CRPF chief personally reviewing the situation and the NIA examining forensic evidence, the investigation has entered a crucial phase. Security agencies are now focusing not only on identifying the gunmen but also on tracing the network that may have enabled the attack.
