Only 1 active local terrorist left in J&K; hunt on for Mohammed Lateef Bhat
Around five years ago, security agencies estimated there were 50-60 active local terrorists. In May 2025, official records showed 17 active local terrorists.
According to security records, Jammu & Kashmir now has just one active local terrorist remaining, Mohammed Lateef Bhat, who is suspected to be behind multiple high-profile attacks. The hunt for Bhat, a Kulgam resident, is ongoing, with officers from the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the CRPF mounting an intensive search. Bhat is believed to have escaped during a joint operation on July 8, when security forces killed another Category A Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist, Zakir Ahmed Ganei.
Bhat and Ganei were reportedly planning to disrupt the ongoing Amarnath Yatra. Security officials suspect Bhat joined the LeT offshoot, Kashmir Revolution Army (KRA), around five years ago and has evaded capture twice before. The decrease in local recruitment can be attributed to increased security measures and NIA probes targeting terror financing and narco terrorism.
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