Authorities have launched a massive manhunt after a deadly terror attack in the Baisaran Valley of Pahalgam on Tuesday, in which armed militants opened fire on tourists. At least five terrorists are suspected to have been involved, including three foreign nationals believed to be from Pakistan.
In a major breakthrough, officials have released sketches of three suspects and announced a reward of ₹20 lakh for any actionable information leading to their capture. Initial investigations suggest that the group included at least two local militants, as per eyewitnesses and intelligence inputs.
“The dialect of Urdu spoken by some attackers points to regions in Pakistan. It’s believed two local militants accompanied them,” a senior security official stated.
Sources confirmed that one of the suspects had previously participated in an attack on an Indian Air Force convoy last year. The two others, reportedly from Bijbehara and Thokerpora in Kulgam, had traveled to Pakistan in 2017 for terror training and returned last year. They are believed to be affiliated with Jaish-e-Mohammed and may have collaborated with Lashkar-e-Taiba for this coordinated strike.
Investigative agencies are also probing the involvement of Saifullah Kasuri, alias Saifullah Khalid—a top Lashkar commander and close associate of 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed. Kasuri has been linked to multiple terror incidents over the past two decades.
Authorities suspect the attackers fled to the higher reaches of the Pir Panjal range. Security forces, including the Indian Army, central paramilitary forces, and Jammu & Kashmir police, have launched intensive search operations.
An officer revealed that the terrorists were likely equipped with body-mounted cameras, a tactic commonly used for propaganda. “All attacks in Jammu in the past three years were recorded. LeT has used such footage for recruitment and terror propaganda,” he said.
It remains unclear how the terrorists entered Kashmir or how long they had been present in the region. Investigative agencies are exploring possible border infiltration, with additional checks underway along vulnerable stretches.
On Wednesday, a team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), led by an Inspector General-rank officer, reached Pahalgam to assist local authorities. The agency is expected to take over the probe.
An FIR filed following the attack confirms that the terrorists, acting on instructions from across the border, used illegal weapons to indiscriminately fire on tourists.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the site of the attack and conducted high-level security meetings with top officials from the police, Intelligence Bureau, and Army. He also met with victims and their families, reaffirming the government's commitment to bringing the perpetrators to justice.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)