4 LeT terrorists, including 2 local men with body cams, carried out Pahalgam killings

A group of four Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, including two locals, launched a brutal attack on Hindu tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday. Armed with AK-47 rifles loaded with steel-tipped bullets and equipped with body cameras, they singled out Hindus among the group and opened fire.

Sources from the security establishment identified the two local terrorists as Aadil Thakur from Bijbehara and Aasif Sheikh from Tral. The two other attackers, believed to be of Pashtun origin, are suspected to be Pakistani nationals. Despite The Resistance Front (TRF) claiming responsibility for the assault, security sources clarified that TRF is merely a front for LeT, which orchestrated the attack.

It is suspected that the attackers had initially planned the assault during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Katra on April 19, but the visit was cancelled. There are also claims that the attack was not aimed at intelligence officers, though a member of the Intelligence Bureau, vacationing with family, was among the victims.

The terrorists approached Baisaran meadows, also known as Maggi Point or Mini Switzerland, where they separated the Hindu men from the group by asking their names and identifying their religious affiliations. At least two men attempted to conceal their religious identity, but the attackers confirmed their suspicions and opened fire. Women and children were spared.

The terrorists fired for approximately 15 minutes before fleeing the scene. Investigators recovered AK-47 shell casings and armour-piercing steel bullets from the area. Security sources suggested that the terrorist group might have had additional members stationed as lookouts.

A large-scale manhunt has been launched by security forces, and special forces have been deployed to track down the terrorists. Although intelligence reports indicated terrorist activity in nearby areas, they were initially dismissed as routine alerts.

The absence of security personnel in the area has raised questions, especially considering the large number of tourists during the peak tourism season. Authorities, however, indicated that they did not anticipate an attack on tourists, as such incidents harm local communities.

The attack, which left 26 people dead, has been a major blow to the Narendra Modi government, prompting the Prime Minister to cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia. Upon returning, Modi reviewed the security situation at the Delhi airport.