Terrorists trekked 22 hours through rough terrain for Pahalgam attack: Sources
Forensic analysis has confirmed that the terrorists used AK-47 and M4 assault rifles during the attack, with recovered cartridges providing crucial evidence.Two terrorists emerged from behind nearby shops, ordering victims to recite the Kalma before shooting four people dead at point-blank range, per sources. This sudden act of brutality triggered panic, with tourists running in all directions for safety. Simultaneously, the other two terrorists opened fire from near the zipline area, intensifying the bloodbath.advertisementIn a significant development, a key witness - a local photographer - has emerged in the case. Perched atop a tree during the attack, he managed to record critical footage capturing the sequence of events as they unfolded. His videos are now seen as crucial leads by investigators piecing together the full timeline of the attack.Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has now formally begun the process of taking over the investigation following orders from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Teams from the anti-terror agency have been stationed at the attack site since Wednesday, intensifying their search for evidence under the supervision of senior officials.They are meticulously examining eyewitnesses to reconstruct the events and closely scrutinising the entry and exit points in the valley to understand the terrorists' modus operandi.Supported by forensic experts, NIA officials are combing the entire Baisaran valley for clues to expose the terror conspiracy behind one of the deadliest attacks witnessed in Kashmir in recent years.Tune InMust Watch
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Freed after 19 years, India train blast accused look to rebuild lives
Nearly two decades lost, a family fractured and a city still without closure the scars of the 2006 Mumbai train bombings remain, even as the men once blamed for the deadly attacks walk free. Freed after 19 years, India train blast accused look to rebuild lives After 19 years behind bars, Mohammad Sajid Margub Ansari can finally hold his daughter in his arms. Ansari, now 48, was one of 12 men convicted in 2015 for murder, conspiracy and waging war against India over the 2006 train blasts. The evening rush-hour attacks, carried out with pressure-cooker bombs hidden in bags beneath newspapers and umbrellas, killed 187 people and wounded hundreds more. Five of the accused were sentenced to death, while the other seven including Ansari were given life imprisonment. At the time of the blasts, Ansari was just 29, running a modest mobile and computer repair shop. He was arrested soon after the explosions, reportedly accused of assembling the bombs and sheltering two Pakistani nationals. But this week, a two-judge bench of the Bombay High Court overturned the convictions, ruling that the prosecution had "utterly failed" to prove the men were responsible. The prosecution appealed to the Supreme Court to halt their release, but it declined to intervene. "It feels amazing to be free," Ansari told AFP. "We are innocent." Freedom, however, feels bittersweet for Ansari. "My whole youth is gone. My family had to face financial troubles," he said. His wife was pregnant when Ansari was arrested, leaving him to miss his daughter's entire childhood. In her early years, she wouldn't even come near him. "As a dad that felt terrible, that I could not hold my own daughter," he said. "I used to feel very helpless and think why do we have to go through all this when I am innocent." The 2006 attacks were initially blamed on the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, although a little-known outfit, Lashkar-e-Qahhar, later claimed responsibility. Pakistan denied the allegations. For survivor Chirag Chauhan, who was paralysed from the waist down in one of the blasts, the acquittal of the men felt like being dragged "back to square one". "We don't know what to do and where to start from. The entire system is hopeless," he told AFP. In 2006, Chauhan, now 40, was returning home from chartered accountancy training when the train he boarded was hit by an explosion. Prosecutors said the explosives were deliberately placed in first-class coaches to target the city's wealthy Gujarati community. They also said the bombings were intended as revenge for riots in the western state of Gujarat in 2002, which left around 2,000 people dead, most of them Muslims. A spinal cord injury left Chauhan requiring the use of a wheelchair. "After 19 years if the accused are let free, who carried out the blasts then?" he asked. But he also said there should be a "fair investigation", noting that the now freed men could have been framed. "All are equally to be blamed, the judiciary, the investigative agencies, everyone," he said. For Ansari, his years behind bars demand more than an acquittal. "The agencies should be ashamed of what they did and should definitely apologise to us," he said. While his old mobile and computer repair shop is no longer an employment option, given the advances in technology since he was imprisoned, Ansari is aiming to rebuild his life. He plans to finish the undergraduate law degree which he enrolled in while in prison. "I hope to put it to good use," he said. asv-ash/abh/cdl/sco This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
2 Pakistani army personnel killed in Balochistan
Agency: Last Updated: July 24, 2025, 21:30 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Karachi, Jul 24 (PTI) Two Pakistani army personnel, including a Major, were killed during an intelligence-based operation against insurgent groups in the restive Balochistan province on Thursday, the military said. The operation was carried out at Mastung district. 'During the operation, Major Zeeyyad Salim Awal and Sepoy Nazam Hussain were killed," the military's media wing said. Three militants were also killed in the operation, it said. Swipe Left For Next Video View all Balochistan has witnessed a surge in insurgent activities in recent months. Earlier this month, three members of a Qawwali troupe were killed, and several others injured, when their bus was attacked near the Parod area on the Karachi-Quetta national highway. PTI CORR SCY SCY (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments News agency-feeds 2 Pakistani army personnel killed in Balochistan Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Pakistani woman sent to police custody in daughter's ‘honour killing' case
A Pakistani court on Thursday remanded a woman to police custody for two days in connection with the alleged honour killing of her daughter and a man in Balochistan province. In a viral video, the woman is purportedly seen holding the Holy Quran and stating that the act was not a crime but aligned with traditional values. (Representative Image) The incident took place some days ago at the Sanjidi Degari area near Quetta. The woman, identified as Gul Jan Bibi, was arrested after a video surfaced on social media in which she justified the killings, citing adherence to Baloch tribal customs. She was presented before the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Quetta, which sent her on a two-day police remand. In the video, Gul is seen holding the Holy Quran and stating that the act was not a crime but aligned with traditional values. 'My daughter who was married with five children was killed because of her relations with a Baloch youngster who used to post objectionable videos on Tik Tok despite several warnings given to him by our family. 'In Balochi culture, having illicit relations is a crime and punishable by death. The decision to shoot them was taken by a Jirga (tribal council),' she said in the video message. Police also arrested a tribal leader and 10 others in connection with the case, which came into limelight last week after a video went viral in which Gul's daughter and her male friend were seen being shot dead by a group of men in a mountainous area. According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, there were at least 405 victims of honour killings in 2024 across various parts of the country.
