Family Home Razed After Terror Suspect’s Mother Claims No Contact Since 2018

The home of Shahzada Bano in Guree village was reduced to rubble by security forces. They claim her son, Adil Hussain Thoker, a key suspect in the deadly Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people, recently returned home. But Bano vehemently denies any contact with Adil since 2018, when he allegedly left for studies.

Before the demolition, Bano was escorted to a relative’s house in a neighboring village. The army, accompanied by sniffer dogs, scoured the ruins for any potential explosives.

Adil, once a promising student, had been missing for years. His family maintains they haven’t heard from him since April 29, 2018, when he said he was going to Badgam for an exam. His phone was subsequently switched off, and a missing report was filed.

Bano expressed her anguish, stating, ‘If he is involved, the forces can act accordingly. But I cannot accept that my son could be involved in the killings.’ She appealed to Adil to surrender, saying, ‘Please surrender so that we can live in peace.’

She recounts how security forces arrived late Thursday, searched the house, and conducted a video call showing the interior to an army officer. Bano claims they told her Adil had eaten a meal at home, but when she questioned why they hadn’t arrested him if they knew, they abruptly warned her of an impending explosion and ordered her to flee.

Intelligence agencies confirmed that Adil crossed into Pakistan in 2018 on a student visa. They believe he re-entered India through the Line of Control (LoC) in 2024. Adil’s father, brothers, and cousins are currently in custody following the attack. Bano herself was detained for a day.

“My house has been demolished. My husband and sons are in custody. How long will the neighbours feed me?” Bano lamented