Kashmir detentions surge as police widen probe into Red Fort blast

The security crackdown across Jammu and Kashmir has gathered pace following the explosion near the Red Fort in New Delhi on 10 November, which officials say killed at least 13 civilians. Police and counter-intelligence units have since intensified operations aimed at identifying individuals suspected of supporting or facilitating extremist activity.

According to police officials, more than 500 search operations have been conducted in recent days, resulting in at least 600 people being “detained and bound down” under preventive laws. Many of the raids have targeted individuals believed to be linked to Jamaat-e-Islami, an organisation banned by the Indian government for alleged involvement in separatist activity.

Senior officers say the operations are intended to “dismantle the terror ecosystem”, referring to networks that support militant groups through ideological, logistical, or financial means. They report that a large volume of material has been seized, including documents, digital devices, and printed literature associated with proscribed organisations.

Substantial activity has taken place in south Kashmir, particularly in Kulgam, which is the hometown of one of the suspects under scrutiny for the Red Fort blast. Police say more than 200 locations were searched in the district alone, including premises linked to alleged supporters of banned outfits. Over recent days, more than 400 cordon-and-search operations have taken place in Kulgam, and hundreds of people have been questioned.

Investigators have also examined the possible role of several medical professionals. Three doctors from the region are being scrutinised for alleged links to the attack. DNA samples have been taken from the mother of Dr Umar Nabi, who is believed by police to be the main suspect. Officers are attempting to establish whether the remains found inside a car used in the blast belong to him.

Another doctor, Tajamul Ahmed Malik, was questioned in Srinagar. His family has denied any connection to the incident, saying his questioning related only to a cold storage project that police were attempting to verify. A third doctor, Adeel Ahmad Rather, is being investigated in relation to separatist posters attributed to Jaish-e-Muhammad that appeared in Srinagar last month.

Authorities in several districts, including Baramulla, Pulwama, Ganderbal and Budgam, have conducted coordinated searches at dozens of properties. Police in Sopore in north Kashmir say they raided more than 30 locations following intelligence assessments indicating attempts to revive activities linked to banned groups under new organisational fronts.

Over the past week, Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK), a specialised wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, has undertaken additional raids across the Valley in relation to what officials describe as a “white-collar terror module”. The term refers to individuals who may not be directly involved in militant violence but are suspected of facilitating operations through planning, logistics, or financial channels.

Officials say around 10 people, including three government employees, were detained for questioning during overnight raids in Anantnag, Pulwama and Kulgam districts. Around 15 individuals are currently being questioned, and significant digital evidence has reportedly been recovered.

Security agencies say they have found diaries belonging to two of the Red Fort blast suspects, which appear to contain references to dates between 8 and 12 November, suggesting the attack was part of a coordinated plan. Names of around 25 individuals from Jammu and Kashmir and the Delhi satellite city of Faridabad were reportedly listed in the diaries. Investigators are also analysing coded notes and examining whether multiple vehicles were being prepared for additional attacks.

Officials briefed on the inquiry say the suspects may have been planning explosions in up to four locations, with different teams assigned to separate cities. They say they are still piecing together the evidence to understand the scope of the alleged conspiracy.

In Bandipora, Shopian, and other districts, dozens of suspected members of banned organisations have been questioned and placed under preventive restrictions. Police say these actions are designed to disrupt potential extremist networks before they can mobilise.

In central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, police say a substantial quantity of incriminating documents and digital devices was seized from properties linked to individuals under investigation. Several people have been detained for further questioning. Parallel operations in Budgam and Pulwama also yielded materials that police believe could aid extremist groups.

Meanwhile, police in Shopian say they are investigating a video circulated on social media that reportedly encouraged separatist sentiment. Authorities have warned that legal action will be taken against those attempting to use online platforms to “disturb harmony or spread misinformation”.

Officials involved in the crackdown say the operations are part of a broader preventive strategy to ensure calm in the region. They emphasise that the effort is focused on curtailing both established militant groups and networks believed to assist them indirectly.

Context

Security operations in Kashmir have increased significantly in recent years, following a series of attacks attributed to both local and cross-border groups. The region has witnessed periodic crackdowns targeting suspected militants as well as supporters accused of aiding separatist movements.

The latest actions reflect concerns that extremist networks may be evolving to include individuals who operate within professional or academic environments, a trend authorities describe as “white-collar” involvement. Analysts say such networks can be more difficult to detect because they rely on skills, resources, and access rather than direct participation in armed violence.

The Red Fort, a major historic site in India’s capital, has been targeted by militant groups in the past. The recent attack has heightened security concerns and renewed calls for improved intelligence coordination between agencies operating in Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir.

Officials say investigations into the blast and the alleged terror module are ongoing, and more details are expected as evidence is examined and suspects are questioned.