J&K policeman shot dead in Anantnag terror attack; search operation underway

Mangalore Today News Network

Srinagar, Jul 22, 2026: A Jammu and Kashmir Police constable was shot dead by a suspected terrorist in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Tuesday, officials said.

The deceased, identified as Constable Ashiq Hussain, a resident of Beerwah in Budgam district, was attacked near Lal Chowk in Anantnag town. He sustained critical bullet injuries after the assailant allegedly opened fire at close range. He was rushed to a hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

A CCTV video circulating on social media purportedly shows the attacker approaching the constable from behind before firing at close range and fleeing the scene. However, the footage has not been independently verified, and police have not confirmed its authenticity.

Following the attack, security forces sealed off the area, deployed additional personnel and launched a massive search operation to trace the assailant.

The incident comes amid heightened security arrangements across Jammu and Kashmir for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra.

Although militancy-related violence has significantly declined in south Kashmir over the past two years, isolated targeted attacks on security personnel continue to remain a concern.

Senior police officials visited the spot, while forensic teams collected evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events. Authorities said further details would be shared as the investigation progresses.

The killing is likely to intensify anti-terror operations in the region as security agencies work to identify and apprehend the attacker.