'Made in Pakistan' chocolates, voter IDs, rifles & more: Clues that helped India expose Pahalgam attackers' Pakistani identity
Pahalgam terror attack
were Pakistani nationals. And it wasn't just one clue that confirmed this, it ranged from voter ID numbers to chocolates.
As per Shah, a major part of the breakthrough came when security forces seized weapons and personal items from the three slain terrorists during
Operation Mahadev
in Srinagar. Forensic tests matched the rifles and cartridges used in the Pahalgam attack with those recovered after the operation.
Explore courses from Top Institutes in
Please select course:
Select a Course Category
Product Management
Healthcare
healthcare
Project Management
Digital Marketing
MBA
Public Policy
Data Analytics
Data Science
Degree
PGDM
Data Science
Leadership
Management
Cybersecurity
others
Finance
MCA
Artificial Intelligence
Technology
Others
CXO
Operations Management
Design Thinking
Skills you'll gain:
Product Strategy & Roadmapping
User-Centric Product Design
Agile Product Development
Market Analysis & Product Launch
Duration:
24 Weeks
Indian School of Business
Professional Certificate in Product Management
Starts on
Jun 26, 2024
Get Details
Skills you'll gain:
Creating Effective Product Roadmap
User Research & Translating it to Product Design
Key Metrics via Product Analytics
Hand-On Projects Using Cutting Edge Tools
Duration:
12 Weeks
Indian School of Business
ISB Product Management
Starts on
May 14, 2024
Get Details
Skills you'll gain:
Product Strategy & Competitive Advantage Tactics
Product Development Processes & Market Orientations
Product Analytics & Data-Driven Decision Making
Agile Development, Design Thinking, & Product Leadership
Duration:
40 Weeks
IIM Kozhikode
Professional Certificate in Product Management
Starts on
Jun 26, 2024
Get Details
But that wasn't all. Shah revealed that the terrorists were also carrying chocolates, manufactured in Pakistan, which added to the growing evidence of their identity.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You
Villas In Dubai | Search Ads
Get Rates
Undo
Shah said that the authorities even had the terrorists' Pakistani voter ID numbers. The three, identified as Suleiman, Afghan, and Jibran, were recognised by individuals who had been detained earlier for giving them food and shelter.
Once their bodies were brought to Srinagar, the detainees confirmed the identities, leaving no room for doubt.
Live Events
All three were top-ranking Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists. Suleiman and Afghan were listed as A-category commanders, while Jibran too held an A-grade status in the group.
'Security forces went to great lengths to confirm that the three terrorists were the same ones responsible for the Pahalgam attack,' Shah told Parliament.
He added that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had already arrested those who had helped them and confirmed the chain of events with forensic evidence.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
a minute ago
- Hindustan Times
Juveniles, age of consent and justice: Explaining the wide conviction gap
An analysis of government data in the Supreme Court reveals a stark disparity between the number of juveniles and young adults charged under rape and child sexual abuse laws and the relatively small proportion who are eventually convicted, throwing sharp focus on the ongoing debate over the age of consent and its unintended consequences. According to the Union government's latest submission to the Supreme Court, between 2018 and 2022, only 468 juveniles aged 16-18 were convicted under Section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code, despite more than 4,900 being booked across the country in the same period , a conviction rate of just 9.55%. For charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, just 855 convictions were recorded out of 6,892 cases during the same period , a rate of only 12.4%. The corresponding numbers for young adults aged 18-22 tell a similar story. While 52,471 were arrested under these stringent laws during this period, only 6,093 were convicted under Pocso, a conviction rate of just 11.61%. Of 24,306 arrested between 2018 and 2022 for rape, only 2,585 young adults were convicted under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code, amounting to just 10.63% . The statistics form part of the Centre's written submissions opposing any move to lower the age of consent under the Pocso Act or introduce exceptions for adolescent relationships, telling the top court that such dilution, 'even in the name of reform or adolescent autonomy,' would dismantle the statutory shield meant to safeguard minors and risk opening the door to child abuse. However, the wide gap between the registration of cases and convictions suggests that while these laws aim to safeguard children from sexual exploitation, they may also be pulling large numbers of adolescents and young people (mostly men) into the criminal justice system, often in cases involving consensual relationships that turn adversarial due to family or societal pressure. Convictions and sentencing For juveniles (16-18 years), Pocso convictions rose modestly from 144 in 2018 to 213 in 2022 even as the number of detentions rose from 844 to 1,757, which implies a conviction rate of just 12.12% in 2022. The majority received prison terms of up to 10 years. Life imprisonment was awarded in only 31 cases across five years, and there was no death penalty. For the same group, rape convictions remained flat, ranging from 83 to 110 per year, with over 85% receiving sentences of up to 10 years. Only eight juveniles, tried as adults under the pertinent legal provisions, received life terms during this period. Among young adults in the 18-22 years age group, convictions under Pocso grew from 1,213 in 2018 to 1,312 in 2022. However, even this increase is modest considering the scale of bookings under the Act. While 8,740 persons were apprehended in 2018, 13,068 were arrested in 2022. That translates to conviction rates of 13.88% in 2018 and 10.04% in 2022 under Pocso. Additionally, rape convictions dropped from 620 in 2018 to 476 in 2022, reflecting a 23.23% decline despite higher arrest figures. Life imprisonment was more common in this age group. 773 individuals received life terms for Pocso offences, while 238 did so for rape. A total of 22 young adults were awarded the death penalty over the five years, compared to just one juvenile. These statistics emerge at a time when the Supreme Court is hearing a public interest litigation examining whether the blanket criminalisation of all sexual activity below the age of 18 under the Pocso Act requires re-examination. The law, enacted in 2012, sets the age of consent at 18 and makes even consensual acts between teenagers prosecutable. Senior advocates Indira Jaising and Sidharth Luthra, appearing as amici curiae in the 2012 public interest litigation (PIL) filed by lawyer Nipun Saxena, have argued that the mandatory reporting requirement and lack of a close-in-age exception is leading to over-criminalisation, infringing on the autonomy, privacy, and health rights of adolescents, particularly girls. But the Union government has pushed back, telling the court that 'any dilution of the age of consent, even in the name of reform or adolescent autonomy, would irrevocably dilute the statutory presumption of vulnerability that lies at the heart of child protection law.' In a recently filed affidavit, It has urged the court to uphold the 'bright-line' age of 18 to deter abuse and exploitation. Numbers suggest a need for nuance Data suggests that many of those convicted are themselves just a few years older than the complainants. The tables submitted by the government highlight that young men aged 18–22 are the most prosecuted group under Pocso, raising concerns that the protective intent of the law is being applied to penalise consensual relationships. For example, in 2022, 213 juveniles (16-18) were convicted under Pocso whereas 1,312 young adults (18-22) were convicted under the same Act -- over six times higher. Rape convictions for 18-22-year-olds (476) were also significantly higher than for juveniles (92). The sentencing trends further bolster the case for a more differentiated approach. A vast majority of both juveniles and young adults received sentences below 10 years, suggesting courts may be exercising discretion when faced with such cases, but only after the accused have undergone lengthy trials and detention. A legal and social dilemma The Centre's firm position against creating a 'close-in-age' exception, such as exempting consensual acts between teens aged 16-18, comes amid growing calls for a calibrated rethink. Several high courts, and even Supreme Court benches in bail and quashing proceedings, have flagged the problem of criminalising teenage love. Yet, the government has maintained that 'loosening age-based protections could open avenues for abuse under the guise of consensual activity,' and that the law must 'act as a strong deterrent… in a society where children, especially girls, are vulnerable to manipulation, coercion and abuse.' At the heart of the debate lies the challenge of balancing protection with autonomy, ensuring minors are not exploited, while also preventing a legal system from punishing consensual and developmental relationships among peers. In her written submissions countering the Centre's stance, Jaising said the age of consent was static at 16 years for 80 years and that increasing it to 18 years through the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013. 'No rational reason has been indicated for the increase, nor is there any data to suggest that the age of consent required any increase,' stated her submissions, adding the increase in the age of consent violated the right to autonomy of children between the ages of 16 and 18 who have the ability to give mature consent to sexual activity, having regard to the fact that they have attained puberty giving rise to sexual awareness. 'Scientific research indicates that adolescents are attaining puberty sooner than they did several years ago and puberty as we know, is the age of awakening of sexual awareness. It is the age during which there is a natural attraction between the sexes and the development of sexual relationships of choice. Hence, to criminalise such an activity rather than addressing the issue of sex education, is arbitrary, unconstitutional and against the best interests of children as defined in law,' the submissions contended. Increasing the age of consent has led to branding hundreds of children in the 16-18 age group as criminals. 'Data also indicates that most complaints to police are filed by parents of the girl, often against her own wishes and for extraneous reasons such as inter-religious or inter-caste relationships,' she said. 'The only solution lies in declaring that sex between consenting adolescents between the age of 16, an almost universal age of sexual maturity, and 18 is not a form of 'abuse',' Jaising's submissions added. The senior counsel urged the Supreme Court to read into the impugned legal provisions a 'close-in-age exception', applicable when both parties to the sexual act are adolescents between the ages of 16 and 18 and the sexual act is consensual. 'Such an exception would preserve the protective intent of the statute while preventing its misuse against adolescent relationships that are not exploitative in nature,' she said. As the Supreme Court resumes hearing the matter next month, the numbers paint a sobering picture : thousands of adolescents and young adults are caught in the legal net each year, but only a fraction are ultimately held guilty, often after years of litigation. Whether this calls for legislative reform or judicial steps may now be for the court to decide but the data offers compelling reason to confront the unintended consequences of the current regime.
Time of India
14 minutes ago
- Time of India
Welfare Fund Underused, Delhi Trails far behind national average in Construction Worker Support
New Delhi: The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on the welfare of building and other construction workers has highlighted that Delhi performed poorly in ensuring welfare for such workers. The performance audit covered the period from 2019 to 2023 and just 7.3% of the workers renewed their registrations over the four years, far below the all-India average of 74%. It also noted serious lapses, including unreliable worker data and underutilisation of welfare funds. The performance audit, tabled in Delhi Assembly by chief minister Rekha Gupta, flagged duplicate and invalid registrations, absence of inspections and failure to implement key health and insurance benefits mandated under national schemes and Supreme Court directives. The report criticised Delhi govt for its dismal performance and said it did not maintain any reliable data relating to construction workers, pointing out that the Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board provided a complete database for only 1.9 lakh out of the registered 6.9 lakh workers. Of the 1.9 lakh whose images were shared with the auditor, 1.2 lakh were linked with 2.4 lakh images, meaning more than one image for an individual beneficiary. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Duplicate images, images with no faces and multiple registrations of the same face indicated serious loopholes in the registration process. Out of 17 welfare schemes, benefits were extended under only 12 during the audit period. No expenditure was recorded for schemes on financial assistance for miscarriages, advances for house purchase or construction, loans or grants for the purchase of work-related tools and life insurance. In selected South and North West districts, 97 private establishments were found not to be registered despite depositing cess between April 2019 and March 2023. Similarly, 25 construction-related establishments listed on the Delhi Fire Service website were also not registered. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi Under the Building and Other Construction Workers' Welfare Cess Act, 1996, cess is to be levied at 1% of construction costs. As of March 2023, the board accumulated Rs 3,579.1 crore as cess, but there was a mismatch of Rs 204.9 crore in cess figures between district records and those of the board. Financial assistance of Rs 46.1 crore meant for the education of 58,998 children of construction workers for 2018-19 and 2019-20 was released only in March 2022. There were delays of up to 1,423 days in processing 134 out of 4,017 applications related to various schemes. Although central govt advised states in Oct 2018 to provide transit accommodation, labour sheds, mobile toilets and crèches for construction workers, no concrete steps were taken in Delhi. Further, no training was imparted beyond 2019-20, when 350 workers were trained. In June 2019, the board approved the implementation of the Centre's directive on revised compensation of Rs 4 lakh for accidental death and Rs 2 lakh for natural death. However, it continued to pay, respectively, Rs 2 lakh and Rs 1 lakh. The audit also flagged that workers were not covered under Ayushman Bharat/Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, which offers Rs 5 lakh as health insurance per family annually. Instead, workers were entitled to a maximum medical assistance of only ₹10,000.
Time of India
14 minutes ago
- Time of India
Rumours swirl on eve of Art 370 abrogation anniv
Srinagar: Amid rumours of further bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir a day before the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, CM Omar Abdullah on Monday said "nothing will happen tomorrow". "I've heard every possible permutation & combination about what to expect in J&K tomorrow so let me stick my neck out and say nothing will happen tomorrow - fortunately nothing bad will happen but unfortunately nothing positive will happen either (sic)," Omar wrote on X, as the state remained abuzz that Jammu may become a separate state. "I'm still optimistic about something positive for J&K in this monsoon session of Parliament but not tomorrow (sic)," Omar said in a veiled reference to restoration of statehood, adding: "And no, I haven't had any meetings or conversations with people in Delhi. This is just a gut feeling. Let's see this time tomorrow." While Omar appeared to dismiss the rumours, PDP's Iltija Mufti said, "Since a week now, hushed whispers suggest something drastic yet again is in the offing. Insinuations dressed in metaphors & dark humour." Her mother and former CM Mehbooba Mufti, in a post on X, criticised the abrogation of Article 370, but did not make any reference to the latest speculations. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo "Aug 4, 2019, we were silenced. Aug 5 our voice, our rights, our Constitution taken without our consent. What was ours by birth and by belonging was stripped away overnight. Not a whisper of warning. Not a shred of justice. Today, we remember. We resist," she said. Earlier in the day, J&K Police held a high-level security review meeting, chaired by DGP Nalin Prabhat. A police spokesperson said the DGP was apprised of the prevailing security situation in the UT by the IGs and heads of various wings, including intelligence. Prabhat emphasised the need to enhance security measures and design effective counter-insurgency strategies for smooth and peaceful conduct of coming events in J&K, including Independence Day. He also directed the officers to increase surveillance on anti-national elements, intensify area domination exercises, and enhance the security of vulnerable targets. The DGP directed the district police chiefs to closely monitor social media platforms to prevent any attempt to spread misinformation impacting public safety and order, the spokesperson said. In the context of the rumours about of another another big announcement, Lt-General (retired) Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon, who was serving as the 48th commander of 15 Corps in Kashmir when Article 370 was abrogated, said on X: "The peace in Kashmir has come about at a great cost of human lives - of security forces personnel and innocent civilians. It's still fragile, as was evident from the Pahalgam terror attack. For the sake of those who laid down their lives in this journey of peace, as also those whose lives are going to be impacted by any decision on it, we should not rush into any hasty decision as consolidation phase for restoration of peace is going on. "
