Pahalgam attack not possible without locals, 5-6 involved: Ex-sleeper cell member

India Today

05-05-2025

A former sleeper cell member said the Pahalgam attack couldn't have been possible without the help of local operatives and around 5-6 of them were in touch with the Lashkar terrorists who carried out the massacre. In an exclusive interview with India Today, he said the sleeper cell members were likely consulted a month ago and everything was planned in advance before the attack on tourists in the Baisaran Valley.advertisement"If I were to carry out an attack in Srinagar, I can't just go in blindly. The Pahalgam attack couldn't have happened without the help of sleeper cell operatives. How would I know how many soldiers are stationed there? Before an attack, I will need to scout the area. It's the sleeper cell that provides the information," he said. The Kashmir resident, who served over two years in jail but has been reformed, said the job of sleeper cells is to provide intelligence on Army movements and supply food and other essentials to terrorists.
On April 22, two Pakistan-based terrorists and a local opened fire on tourists in the scenic Baisaran Valley, killing 26 people. The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack.advertisementSources at the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said the network of top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Farooq Ahmad likely played a key role in helping the terrorists."According to me, there were around 5–6 sleeper cell members working with the terrorists there, and they must have provided information about the situation at the location. They likely consulted about this a month ago, planned everything in advance," he said.ROLE OF TERROR SLEEPER CELLSHe said he worked with terrorists for about 2–4 years. "I helped a lot - carrying supplies, going out at night. Through me, many attacks were carried out," he said. However, he was caught by the security forces while attempting to carry out a grenade attack and spent two-and-a-half years in jail."I was lucky to be released because I was a minor. If I hadn't been a minor, I don't think I would be here," he said.The former sleeper cell operative also revealed how he was recruited by a terrorist. "Back in 2015, a terrorist messaged me on Facebook. At the time, apps like WhatsApp and Facebook weren't closely monitored. He told me to download the BBM app," he said.BBM is a secure app through which video and voice calls can be made without getting tracked.'WAS 110% WRONG TO WORK WITH TERRORISTS'advertisementThe Kashmiri native said his first task was to arrange food for a terrorist deep inside a forest. "Then he asked me to pick up something from one location and drop it at another. This kept happening. Eventually, he was killed. But, before that, he had told another person that I was trustworthy... and the work continued," he said.He further revealed that two of his friends were active terrorists while 13-14 of them were killed in encounters.Reflecting on his past, he said he felt ashamed about working with terrorists. "110% it was wrong. Looking back, I sometimes wonder why I even survived," he said.Tune InMust Watch