India has demolished at least ten homes over the last week belonging to suspected rebels in the region after 26 people were killed in an attack in Pahalgam, Indian-controlled Kashmir, in April.

The ongoing demolitions have sparked anger with locals, who call the punishment an "Israeli tactic".

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a meeting with the military’s top brass in New Delhi, gave India's armed forces "complete operational freedom."

"It was dark when the Indian armed forces cordoned off the village in large numbers and directed us to leave our houses," Ashiq Ahmad, a villager, told MEE.

"After some time, the earth beneath our feet shook," Ashiq said, describing the explosion they heard from a mosque some distance away, where locals had been forcibly held for hours.

"When we came out after two hours, we found many houses destroyed and razed to the ground," he said. "We were mourning the whole night."