Tragedy in Anantnag: Policeman from Budgam Killed in Sudden Lal Chowk Firing Incident

ANANTNAG, JAMMU & KASHMIR — In a sudden and violent outbreak, a police head constable from Budgam was killed on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 after suspected terrorists opened fire on a security deployment in Anantnag town. The targeted attack has prompted a massive security response and raised alarms during the ongoing Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage.

The fatal firing occurred at approximately 12:30 pm at Lal Chowk in Anantnag, where a police party was actively on duty. According to officials, the victim was identified as Head Constable Aashiq Hussain Qureshi (Belt No. 20) of the IR 3rd Battalion. Aashiq Hussain was a resident of Beerwah in the Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir.

During the attack, Head Constable Qureshi sustained critical injuries. He was immediately rushed to the Government Medical College Hospital in Anantnag for emergency treatment. Tragically, attending doctors at the facility declared him dead upon arrival. Further medico-legal proceedings are actively being carried out according to standard protocol.

The fatal shooting in Anantnag marks the first major terror strike in the region since the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, in which 26 civilians lost their lives. The incident has intensified security concerns, as it comes at a time when agencies have significantly stepped up preventive measures and surveillance across the Valley for the annual Amarnath Yatra. The slain officer was specifically deployed on Amarnath Yatra security duty when he was targeted. Thousands of pilgrims are currently traveling through Jammu and Kashmir, necessitating a multi-layered security framework.

Following the attack, security forces swiftly cordoned off the area around Lal Chowk. A massive search operation has been launched to track down the assailants responsible for the gunfire.

The sudden loss of the officer has drawn strong condemnation from political figures. M Y Tarigami, a CPI(M) Central Committee member and Kulgam MLA, spoke out against the attack, describing it as a "heinous attack" that abruptly "snuffed out a precious life".

"Such acts of violence are deeply reprehensible and must be condemned unequivocally," Tarigami stated in a post on X. "I express my deepest sympathies with the family, friends and colleagues of the slain policeman in this hour of grief."

As Anantnag remains under a tightened security grid, local authorities are urging vigilance while search operations to capture the perpetrators continue.