TRF designated as terrorist outfit was behind Valley's several deadly attacks
The TRF, widely considered a shadow group of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), had initially claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack which left 26 civilians dead, but backtracked days later.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officially designated TRF as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in January 2023, for propaganda on terror activities, recruitment of terrorists, infiltration of terrorists and smuggling of weapons and narcotics from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir.
Security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir, believe that TRF was created by Pakistan to give militancy in Kashmir a more "localized" appearance.
'The terror groups like Lashkar and Jaish-e-Mohammad carried religious connotations, which Pakistan wanted to avoid due to increased scrutiny of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF),' a senior security official said. 'To project the militancy in Kashmir as a local, indigenous movement rather than one driven by religious extremism, they shifted to terminology like 'Resistance' — a term that holds broader acceptance and resonance in global political discourse.'
Security agencies in J&K said that the TRF besides Pahalagam attack has been responsible for a series of attacks over the last few years which included the June 9, 2024 attack on pilgrims in Reasi district that left nine people dead.
TRF started taking responsibility for attacks in 2020.
In October 2024, the TRF was also accused of being behind the attack on infrastructure workers in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir that left seven people, including a doctor, dead.
The TRF, officials said, was involved in an encounter on September 13, 2023 at Gadole forest in Kokernag Anantnag in which an Army Colonel, a Major, a Deputy Superintendent of J&K Police were killed. During the initial shootout, another soldier was also injured and his body was found on the third day of the operation.
The first major attack by TRF in Kashmir was carried out on July 8, 2020 when BJP leader Wasim Bari, his father and brother were killed in Bandipora district.
Security officials said that TRF's first chief operational commander was Mohammad Abbas Sheikh, a resident of south Kashmir's Kulgam district. Sheikh is believed to have played a significant role in establishing TRF and also motivating several youth to join militant ranks. He was killed in a gun battle in August 2021 in Srinagar.
Following Sheikh's death, Basit Ahmed Dar, also a resident of Kulgam, took reins of the TRF. He was killed by security forces in May 2024.
Security officials said the TRF is now headed by Sajjad Gul who has been designated as a terrorist under the UAPA, and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has placed a reward of Rs 10lakh on his head. Gul who hails from Srinagar is reportedly based in Pakistan.
They said Gul also masterminded the 'Kashmir Fight' social media platform, which issued threats to civilians, 'aiming to instill fear and disrupt communal harmony.'
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