Kulgam terror attack triggers an extensive security operation, more than 300 suspected OGWs are questioned by J&K Police. (Img: Dynamite News)
Srinagar: The investigation into the November 11 terror attack on Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district intensified on Saturday as police continued questioning suspected Over Ground Workers (OGWs) and launched an extensive manhunt for the terrorists.
The Cordon And Search Operation (CASO) entered the fourth day on Saturday with joint Army, CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police parties carrying out extensive search in nearby villages and orchards, as well as residential areas and nearby forests.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police have questioned more than 300 suspected Over Ground Workers during the investigation over the past three days. Officials said the questioning was intended to establish possible logistical connections, identify individuals who may have assisted the attackers and develop actionable intelligence about their movements.
Several people questioned during the exercise have reportedly been released after preliminary examination, while other suspects have been picked up for further questioning. Investigators are examining whether local support networks provided shelter, transportation, reconnaissance or other logistical assistance to the attackers.
Security forces intensify the manhunt across South Kashmir villages, orchards and forest areas following the attack on CRPF personnel. (Img: Dynamite News)
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) also joined the probe. An NIA team visited the attack site on Friday to collect forensic evidence. Investigators are examining CCTV recordings from nearby locations to reconstruct the sequence of events, establish the movement of the suspected attackers and identify their possible escape routes.
Forensic findings, technical surveillance and human intelligence inputs are being assessed together to develop investigative leads. Security agencies are also examining whether the attack involved more than one terrorist and whether the perpetrators received assistance from an established support network.
An important development in the investigation is the suspected involvement of Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Mohammad Lateef Bhat. According to media reports citing security sources, investigators suspect that Bhat was directly involved in the firing.
Photographs of the suspected terrorist were reportedly shown to the injured CRPF personnel, who identified him as one of the attackers. This identification is being treated as an important investigative lead and remains subject to further corroboration. Investigators are also examining the possibility that another terrorist accompanied him during the attack.
Bhat is suspected of involvement in previous attacks in South Kashmir, including a July incident involving two migrant labourers in the Kelam area near Akhran village. Agencies are examining his alleged operational activities in Kulgam and Anantnag districts, along with possible links to foreign terrorists operating in the region.
Suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Mohammad Lateef Bhat emerges as a key lead in the ongoing Kulgam investigation. (Img: Dynamte News)
The attack took place on Wednesday at around 2:15 pm when suspected terrorists opened fire on a CRPF security post in the Akhran village of Kulgam near Nowpora and Mir Bazar regions in South Kashmir. The firing left three CRPF personnel injured. One of them was reported to be in critical condition, while all the injured personnel were shifted to hospital for medical treatment.
According to preliminary investigation details, the attackers allegedly emerged from a cluster of trees and opened fire on the CRPF deployment before escaping. Security personnel retaliated, preventing further casualties. The location of the attack, approximately 75 kilometres from Srinagar and around a kilometre from the strategically important Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, has added to security concerns.
The manhunt has continued across multiple locations in Kulgam, with joint teams of the Army, CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police conducting coordinated search operations. Search parties are combing residential localities, agricultural orchards, forest stretches and adjoining villages to locate the suspected attackers.
Sniffer dogs have also been deployed to assist search teams. Armoured vehicles, additional security personnel and temporary checkpoints have been positioned at sensitive locations. Security forces are conducting vehicle inspections, frisking and surveillance operations to prevent the suspects from escaping the cordoned areas.
NIA joins the investigation as security agencies examine forensic evidence and CCTV footage to trace the suspected attackers. (Img: Dynamte News)
CRPF Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh visited Kashmir following the attack and reviewed the prevailing security situation. During his visit, he interacted with field officers of the CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police at Sadura in Anantnag.
The discussions focused on operational coordination, intelligence-sharing mechanisms and the strengthening of counter-insurgency operations across the Valley. The visit comes amid heightened security deployment and an intensified effort to identify the attackers and dismantle any support infrastructure associated with them.
The attack has prompted additional security measures across several parts of Kashmir, particularly in South Kashmir. Police and paramilitary personnel have increased checkpoint inspections, random vehicle searches and surveillance in vulnerable areas.
Security agencies are also examining possible logistical networks that could have facilitated the attack, including individuals suspected of providing local assistance. The investigation is focused on establishing the complete sequence of events, identifying all suspected participants and determining whether the attack was part of a wider operational plan.
