Kashmir Police Say Only One Local Militant Is Active, but the Terror Threat Remains
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) of the Kashmir zone said that only one local terrorist is now active in the Kashmir Valley. He added that the threat of terrorism has not ended.
The police identified Lateef Ahmad, aged 21, a resident of Kulgam district in south Kashmir, as the terrorist behind the attack at Lal Chowk in Anantnag town.
That attack, in July 2026, killed one policeman who was on duty in Anantnag.
A falling number of local recruits is an important sign for security agencies. It means fewer young people from the Valley are joining militant groups. The remaining threat comes largely from militants who cross over from Pakistan-occupied territory (often called "foreign terrorists" by the police).
Terror cases in Jammu and Kashmir are usually registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), India's main anti-terror law.
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA)
The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, or UAPA, is India's main law against terrorism and against groups that try to break up the country. It lets the Central Government ban organisations, name individuals as terrorists, and punish people who plan, fund or carry out terror attacks. It also gives the police more time to investigate and makes bail much harder to get than in ordinary criminal cases.
The terrorist identified for the Anantnag attack, which killed a policeman, will face charges under UAPA. Such cases are typically registered under its sections on terrorist acts and membership of terror groups. The law's tough detention and bail rules are central to how police in Jammu and Kashmir handle militancy cases.
Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019
The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 divided the former state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories (UTs). The UT of Jammu and Kashmir has an elected Legislative Assembly, while the UT of Ladakh has none. In J&K, the Lieutenant Governor (LG), who represents the Centre, keeps control over key subjects. The most important of these for security is police and public order.
The J&K Police that identified the Anantnag attacker and tracks active militants works under the LG because of this Act. So the Centre directly shapes counter-terror policing in the Valley, even though the UT has an elected government.
- Active local terrorists in Kashmir: only 1, according to the Kashmir IGP (November 2026)
- Anantnag Lal Chowk attack: July 2026; one policeman killed
- Accused: Lateef Ahmad, 21, of Kulgam district, south Kashmir
- UAPA: enacted 1967; major amendments in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2019
- UAPA arrests 2019 to 2023: 10,440; convictions: 335
- J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019: in force from 31 October 2019; police and public order under the LG