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First Post
23-04-2025
- First Post
Pahalgam attack: 7 terrorists, including 5 from Pakistan, may have been involved, report says
Of the suspected seven terrorists, two were locals, identified as Aadil Thakur of Bijbehara and Aasif Sheikh of Tral. The rest reportedly came from Pakistan read more Security personnel inspect the aftermath of the attack in Pahalgam, about 90 kilometres from Srinagar. Source: AFP Some six to seven terrorists may have been reportedly involved in the tragic terrorist attack on tourists at the Baisaran valley meadow in Pahalgam Tuesday (April 22), including four to five from Pakistan. According to an Indian Express report; which cited sources, eyewitness accounts and intelligence reports; at least two of them were local militants. Earlier reports suggested that the two local terrorists have been identified as Aadil Thakur of Bijbehara and Aasif Sheikh of Tral. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The Urdu that they (the foreign terrorists) spoke is spoken in certain parts of Pakistan… At least two local militants are suspected to be accompanying them but we don't yet know which part of Kashmir they came from,' a security officer was quoted as saying by the paper. Officials have shared sketches of three terrorists and offered a reward of ₹20 lakh ($23,500) for information about each one. It's believed the attackers have escaped to the higher areas of the Pir Panjal mountains. The Army, central forces, and Jammu & Kashmir police are now searching the area. The gunmen reportedly filmed the entire ordeal through their body cameras, something that the officer described as 'a normal practice these days'. 'All attacks in Jammu in the past three years have been shot through body or gun-mounted cameras. These videos are used for propaganda purposes. The LeT (Lashkar-e-Taiba) has already come out with propaganda material using the footage,' the officer said. It was still not known how the foreign terrorists involved in the attack managed to enter the Indian territory and how long they had been there. 'It is still being ascertained. There are some indications based on existing vulnerabilities on the border and some inputs that have been received but nothing is confirmed. Agencies are verifying the details and the border is being checked for signs of infiltration,' an officer said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to media reports, Indian intelligence agencies had already warned the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of a potential Pakistan-backed terror activity in the region. (With inputs from agencies)
The Print
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The Print
4 LeT terrorists, including 2 local men with body cams, carried out Pahalgam killings
The two Pakistani terrorists seem to be of Pashtun background, the sources said. Sources in the security establishment said that the two locals have been identified as Aadil Thakur of Bijbehara and Aasif Sheikh of Tral. Pahalgam: A group of four Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, including two locals, armed with AK-47 rifles with steel tipped bullets and wearing body cameras, singled out Hindus among tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam Tuesday and sprayed them with bullets. Sources emphasized that all four terrorists involved in the attack are from the Pakistan-based LeT, despite The Resistance Front (TRF) claiming responsibility. The TRF, they said, is a front for LeT, used to portray the attack as the work of an indigenous group. It is also believed that the terrorists had come in earlier and the original plan was to carry out an attack during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 19 April Katra visit, which was later cancelled. Sources also denied that the attack was to target any group of officers from any intel agency. They added that a staff member of the Intelligence Bureau had come down with family on holiday and was among those killed. The four terrorists had come to Baisaran meadows—popularly known as Maggi Point or Mini Switzerland—armed with body cameras and AK-47 rifles, it is learnt. The terrorists reportedly asked for names and separated the Hindu men based on that and other identifying features. It is understood that at least two men tried to conceal their religious identity, which the attackers later confirmed. The women and children were moved aside. The group of four terrorists then opened fire at the men and fled the area. The recovered shells were that of AK-47s besides armoured piercing bullets, also known as steel bullets. Sources said that the entire operation by the terrorists lasted about 15 minutes. When asked if more terrorists were present on the ridge, sources said such groups typically operate with up to six members, and it's possible one or two were stationed as lookouts. The security forces have launched a massive manhunt for the group of terrorists. Special forces have also been deployed. According to sources, there was an intelligence input of terrorists being seen in the nearby areas but others dismissed it as routine alerts that are sent out by intel agencies around important events. When asked why no security forces were deployed in the area despite the high number of tourists and the ongoing tourism season, sources said they did not anticipate an attack on tourists, as such incidents also harm locals. They added that authorities also aimed to present the area as a safe zone, rather than one where tourists are greeted by security personnel toting guns. The attack, which claimed 26 lives, marks a significant setback for the Narendra Modi government, prompting the PM to cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia. Upon his return, Modi reviewed the security situation at the technical area of the airport in the national capital. (Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri) Also read: 'Hollow claims of normalcy': Rahul Gandhi slams Centre as terrorists kill at least 26 in Pahalgam
