India demolishes homes of militant suspects

Indian authorities in Kashmir demolished the homes of two suspected militants, including one allegedly involved in Tuesday's deadly attack on tourists. The demolitions are part of what critics call "bulldozer justice," a controversial practice in states governed by Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party targeting those accused of crimes, many of them Muslims.

The destroyed properties belonged to Adil Hussain Thoker and Asif Sheikh, suspected members of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. Officials reported that explosives stored in their homes detonated during the demolition. In a separate action, authorities also razed the house of Ashiq Nengroo, a designated terrorist affiliated with Jaish-e-Mohammed, claiming it was illegally built on government land and financed through terrorist activities.

Tuesday's attack in the Pahalgam area killed 26 men, marking the deadliest assault on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai shootings. India has alleged Pakistani involvement in the incident, which Pakistan denies.

The attack has significantly escalated tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. India suspended a critical water-sharing treaty while Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian airlines, among other retaliatory measures.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has defended the demolition policy, stating that properties of those sheltering terrorists will be razed as "measures of justice rather than oppression." However, these actions have sparked debate regarding their legality and effectiveness, with supporters viewing them as necessary deterrents while critics raise concerns about due process and human rights implications.

The demolitions reflect the government's intensified counterterrorism approach in Jammu and Kashmir following the devastating April attack.