The State Investigation Agency (SIA) of Jammu and Kashmir carried out a major action against terror-linked assets by attaching the ancestral property of Pakistan-based Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Zahid Hussain in Doda district. The action formed part of the government’s continued crackdown on terrorism and terror financing in the Union Territory.

The property was located in Village Mangota, Tehsil Marmat. A team of SIA Jammu reached the village along with the area Executive Magistrate, revenue officials and independent witnesses to formally attach the land. Officials said the process was carried out peacefully and strictly according to legal procedures.

According to the SIA, Zahid Hussain had illegally crossed over to Pakistan in 2000, where he joined the Hizbul Mujahideen. Since then, he had been operating from across the border and remained an active member of the outfit.

In its detailed statement, the agency said, “Absconding Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terrorist Zahid Hussain, son of Abdul Kareem, resident of Village Mangota, Tehsil Marmat, District Doda, remains active in facilitating terror activities from across the border with the help of his terror network.” Officials said Hussain played a significant role in the militant group’s efforts to revive its influence in Jammu and Kashmir. They added that he used digital platforms to reach out to local youth.

The SIA statement noted, “He used various social media platforms to radicalise and recruit youngsters from Jammu and Kashmir for terror activities.”

Investigators revealed that Hussain targeted vulnerable individuals, maintained communication with certain handlers on the ground and attempted to build an organised chain of over-ground workers (OGWs) to support cross-border instructions.

The SIA said that the attachment of his ancestral land was part of a broader strategy to restrict logistical and financial support for militant groups operating from Pakistan. The agency said the move was essential to break the funding channels that helped sustain anti-India activities. It added that such actions were also necessary to ensure that families or associates of wanted militants did not benefit from properties that could indirectly support terrorism.

Reiterating its objective, the SIA stated, “This action is aimed at dismantling the terror ecosystem and ensuring that those involved in terrorism face stringent legal consequences.”

Officials confirmed that the operation was one among several similar actions being conducted across Jammu and Kashmir. They said that properties of individuals who had either crossed into Pakistan for arms training, joined banned organisations, or were involved in terror planning were under scrutiny.

The agency said the crackdown aimed to permanently weaken the internal support structures that enabled terrorism in the region. More such attachments were expected in the coming weeks as part of the sustained campaign.

The SIA’s attachment of Zahid Hussain’s ancestral land in Doda marked another significant step in the ongoing drive to dismantle terror networks in Jammu and Kashmir. The agency said the action targeted the financial and organisational base of Pakistan-based militants. It added that the SIA remained committed to “dismantling the terror ecosystem” and enforcing strict legal measures against anyone aiding terrorism.