Residents of Kuiyaan village in PoK have opposed terrorists, forcing them to flee. This highlights rising public resistance against terrorism in the region, indicating a shift in local attitudes towards extremism.
New Delhi: Aug 1 2025:
In Short
• POK residents force Lashkar-linked terrorist Rizwan Hanif to flee village
• Hanif attended funeral of terrorist Habib Tahir, causing local tensions
• Kuiyaan community plans traditional assembly to oppose terror recruitment
In a notable turn of events in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK), residents in a village forced a key terrorist and his aides to flee the area after opposing his presence in their village.
Rizwan Hanif, a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)-affiliated operative, was confronted by locals in Kuiyaan village, compelling him and his armed bodyguards to retreat. The incident marks a notable shift in local sentiment, with communities increasingly standing up against terrorist elements in the region.
The confrontation took place during the funeral of Habib Tahir, a terrorist killed by Indian forces in Harwan, Srinagar. Despite objections from Tahir’s family, Hanif attended the funeral, sparking tensions between the villagers and the militants.
In response to the incident, residents of Kuiyaan have announced plans to convene a Jirga — a traditional community assembly — to formulate a collective stance against terrorist recruitment and activities in the area.
This reflects a broader trend of declining public tolerance for terrorist groups in POK. Security agencies have recently cracked down on events backed by militants, leading to a visible drop in their public presence.
In a related development, authorities denied permission for a planned conference in Bagh district, citing public safety concerns. The event, which was expected to include armed participants, was to feature Nauman Shehzad, a known figure from POK.
For decades, POK has served as a base for militant groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, which are widely believed to operate with the tacit support of the Pakistani establishment. These groups have been responsible for numerous high-profile attacks in Kashmir and other parts of India. (Source: India Today)
