After Pahalgam massacre, security forces took the terror fight back to Kashmir’s jungles

Following the April 22, 2025 terror attack at Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam — which killed 26 tourists — a comprehensive review of the security grid in the U...

What Happened

Following the April 22, 2025 terror attack at Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam — which killed 26 tourists — a comprehensive review of the security grid in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir was undertaken.
Young officers were inducted into the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and trained alongside Army units in counter-insurgency and jungle warfare operations.
Security forces launched Operation Mahadev, a 97-day manhunt in dense forests and difficult terrain across Kashmir, which resulted in the elimination of three Pakistani nationals identified as perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack.
350 elite SOG personnel trained in jungle and mountain warfare were deployed across forests to track and neutralise terrorists operating in remote areas.
The CRPF's Quick Action Teams and the SOG played a pivotal role in intelligence gathering and area domination following the attack.

Static Topic Bridges

Special Operations Group (SOG) — J&K Police

The Special Operations Group is a specialised tactical unit of the Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) dedicated to counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism, and operations in inaccessible and difficult terrain. Established to deal with the armed militancy that intensified in J&K from the late 1980s, the SOG operates in every district of the UT and is headed by a Superintendent of Police (Operations) or Deputy Superintendent of Police (Operations) at the district level. It is a volunteer force drawing personnel from all ethnic communities of J&K — Kashmiris, Gujjars, Dogras, and Sikhs — giving it critical local intelligence advantages.

SOG personnel are trained in jungle warfare, mountain operations, counter-insurgency, and intelligence gathering
The SOG works in coordination with the Army (particularly Rashtriya Rifles), CRPF, and other central forces
It played a key role in previous major counter-terrorism successes in the Kashmir Valley
350 SOG personnel with specialised training were deployed post-Pahalgam in a surge operation
SOG's ground-level intelligence network is one of its primary operational assets against militant networks

Connection to this news: The induction of young officers and their joint training with Army units represents a doctrinal shift — integrating the J&K Police more deeply into counter-insurgency operations previously dominated by the military, particularly as discussions around reducing the Army's conventional footprint in the UT have gained traction.

Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958

AFSPA is a central legislation that confers special powers on the armed forces in areas declared "disturbed" by the Central or state government. It allows the armed forces to use force (including lethal force) against persons in disturbed areas, arrest without warrant, enter and search premises without warrant, and provides legal immunity to armed forces personnel for actions taken in good faith. AFSPA was extended to Jammu and Kashmir via the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, 1990, enacted at the height of the insurgency. The Act remains in force in J&K, though there have been periodic reviews of its applicability as the security situation has evolved.

AFSPA 1958: applicable in Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, and parts of Arunachal Pradesh
AF(J&K)SPA 1990: specific extension for Jammu and Kashmir — enacted amid rising militancy
"Disturbed area" declaration: required prerequisite for AFSPA to be invoked
The Act has faced sustained criticism for impunity concerns; the Supreme Court (2016) held that excessive use of force by armed forces is not protected by AFSPA
Discussions on phased withdrawal of AFSPA from parts of J&K have been tied to improvement in the security environment

Connection to this news: The Pahalgam attack and the subsequent security surge illustrate the continued operational relevance of AFSPA in J&K, while the push to train J&K Police (SOG) alongside the Army reflects a longer-term strategy of transitioning primary counter-terrorism responsibility to the police — which is a prerequisite for eventual AFSPA rollback.

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967 and the NIA

The UAPA is India's primary anti-terrorism and anti-secessionism law. Originally enacted in 1967 to deal with secessionist movements, it was substantially amended in 2004, 2008, and 2019 to address terrorism. The 2008 amendment was enacted after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and brought in provisions comparable to the previous Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA). The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, 2008 established the NIA as a central agency for investigation of scheduled offences including terrorism under UAPA.

UAPA 2019 amendment: enables the Central Government to designate individuals (not just organisations) as terrorists
Pre-charge sheet detention period under UAPA: up to 180 days (vs. 60–90 days under ordinary law)
Punishment for acts resulting in death: death penalty or life imprisonment
NIA has jurisdiction over terror cases across all states without requiring state consent
Scheduled offences under NIA Act include: UAPA offences, nuclear materials crimes, aircraft hijacking, attacks on public officials
UAPA applies extensively in J&K, Naxal-affected areas, and Northeast India

Connection to this news: The Pahalgam attack perpetrators were designated as terrorists and the investigation brought under UAPA/NIA jurisdiction. The joint operations between J&K Police SOG and the Army represent the on-ground enforcement dimension of the wider counter-terrorism legal-operational framework.

Key Facts & Data

Pahalgam attack date: April 22, 2025; location: Baisaran Valley, Pahalgam
Casualties: 26 tourists killed by terrorists
Operation Mahadev: 97-day manhunt; eliminated three Pakistani nationals involved in the attack
SOG deployment post-attack: 350 personnel with jungle/mountain warfare specialisation
AFSPA in J&K: enacted as AF(J&K)SPA in 1990; remains in force
UAPA enacted: 1967; major amendments: 2008, 2019
NIA established: 2009 (under NIA Act, 2008); investigates UAPA-scheduled offences
SOG structure: present in every district of J&K, headed by SP/DSP (Operations)
Forces involved: SOG (J&K Police), Rashtriya Rifles (Army), CRPF Quick Action Teams