Kashmir Raids Intensify as DNA Identifies Doctor as Car Bomb Driver; Security Forces Demolish Family Home
Indian security forces have escalated their crackdown in Kashmir following a deadly car blast, carrying out sweeping raids, detaining dozens and questioning hundreds as part of an ongoing investigation.
Authorities confirmed that DNA testing has identified the driver of the explosive-laden vehicle as a Kashmiri doctor. In response, security forces demolished his family home in Pulwama district on Thursday night — a practice previously used against individuals accused of links to militancy in the region.
Police also recovered a significant cache of bomb-making materials during a related operation in Faridabad, near New Delhi, as investigators probe possible networks behind the attack.
Tension grew in the aftermath of the blast, with relatives and community members staging protests, demanding answers and accountability. Images from the scene showed grieving family members confronting security officials.
The latest developments come amid a long-running conflict in Kashmir, a region claimed in full by both India and Pakistan but administered in parts by each. Armed groups in Indian-administered Kashmir have fought against New Delhi since 1989, with India describing the movement as Pakistan-backed militancy. Pakistan rejects this, arguing that many Kashmiris see the struggle as a legitimate fight for self-determination.
The investigation remains active, with authorities indicating that more arrests and searches may follow as they work to uncover the full scope of the plot.