High-altitude unit spawned by Pahalgam attack, trained by AP’s Greyhounds

SRINAGAR: J&K Police have deployed “Snow Leopards”, a specialised unit raised after last year’s Pahalgam attack, and a similar special formation called “Markhor” to counter terrorists in higher reaches in a tactical shift to dominate snow-bound peaks and dense forests.

A senior police official said the strategy was revised after terrorists increasingly began operating from forest areas in recent years. The new units comprise personnel, particularly young members, trained at facilities of Greyhounds, Andhra Pradesh’s crack commandos long deployed against Maoists. “The training has been underway for the past year in batches,” the official said.

Snow Leopards were raised to strengthen high-altitude operations, including mountain tops and ridges, the official said. The Markhor batches are trained for forests and rugged mountainous areas long used by terrorists as hideouts. Its name is derived from a Persian term meaning “snake eater,” symbolising agility and resilience.

Both units are equipped with modern weapons and communication systems. They operate in coordination with the Army and are capable of sustaining long-duration operations in tough terrain.

DGP Nalin Prabhat underscored the shift in strategy while addressing new recruits at a special training centre in Jammu’s Talwara earlier this month. “We have shifted the fight to the upper reaches and taken the battle into the jungles,” the DGP said, adding operations now focus on mountainous areas from Chatroo to Udhampur to Kathua, targeting the enemy.

Prabhat cited last year’s “Operation Mahadev”, in which three terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack were killed, as an example of the new strategy.

In his address, the DGP also underlined an expansion in police outreach, with more than 5,300 “Thana Diwas” programmes held last year to strengthen community ties. He highlighted intensified anti-narcotics efforts, with 2,276 arrests over two years, including 226 under NDPS Act, and 54 attachment of properties linked to drug trafficking. He touted the numbers as the highest in the country.

“Our close connect with the people remains our biggest strength,” the DGP said, adding that engaging youth is a key factor in the fight against drugs.
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