&w=3840&q=100)
How Adil Thoker went from being J&K teacher to Pahalgam terror attack architect
Adil Hussain Thoker, the mastermind of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, hails from Anantnag's Guri village. He is one of the gunmen that carried out the attack, killing 26 people. But who is Thoker? How did he go from a teacher to becoming the architect of the Pahalgam terror attack? read more
Adil Hussain Thoker, the mastermind of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, once worked as a teacher. News18
Who is Adil Hussain Thoker?
The mastermind of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack once worked as a teacher, according to several media reports.
He was reportedly one of the six gunmen that carried out the attack which left 26 dead.
The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the terror attack.
But who is he? How did he go from a teacher to becoming the architect of the Pahalgam terror attack?
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Let's take a closer look:
Who is Thoker?
As per The Print, Thoker hails from Anantnag's Guri village.
His father is one Wali Mohammad Thoker, as per News18.
His family owns land in the area. Thoker is one of three siblings.
'He has two brothers. His family also owns a good chunk of land here,' a source told the outlet.
Thoker became radicalised during his college years.
Thoker began working as a teacher after completing his post-graduation.
He was also seen attending religious gatherings and funerals of militants killed by security forces.
'This began way before he left for Pakistan. At that time no one suspected anything since a lot of people would attend funerals of militants. Suspicion arose when he disappeared in 2018,' a second source said.
Thoker is thought to have visited Pakistan in 2018.
As per News18, Thoker is believed to have travelled to Pakistan via Wagah on a Valid Travel Document (VTD).
He is said to have disappeared shortly afterwards.
Later, it began being reported that Thoker had joined the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) – the Pakistan-based terror outfit.
The sketches of some of the terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack. News18
'Intelligence suggests he was in touch with terror outfits already and went to Pakistan to receive training. He and the other terrorists entered Kashmir late last year, together. We suspect they were hiding in various areas including Poonch-Rajouri, Doda Kishtwar, among others,' a third source told The Print.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
As per NDTV, Thoker cut off all contact with his family.
He remained out of sight for the next eight months.
Intelligence agencies tracking his digital footprint could not find him.
A surveillance operation on his home in Anantnag's Bijbehara bore no fruits either.
Sources told the outlet Thoker was being given ideological and paramilitary training during this period.
As per The Times of India, Thoker is also known as Adil Guri.
Mastermind of Pahalgam attack
As per News18, Thoker is thought to have planned the attack alongside the LeT's Saifullah Kasuri and Abu Musa.
Thoker was among the terrorists who carried out the Pahalgam attack.
Eyewitnesses said the terrorists went into the Pir Panjal forest afterwards.
As per The Print, local intelligence had indicated Thoker was in Pahalgam just days before the attack.
Thoker was seen in Rajouri's Poonch earlier this year alongside terrorists as well as last year.
As per NDTV, the area is known for its difficult terrain including steep hills and dense forests.
Thoker at the time was accompanied by three of four people – including Hashim Musa (alias Suleman), who is a prime accused in the Pahalgam attack.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Thoker is thought to have been key to allowing Musa to enter India.
Officials say Thoker crossed back into India last year via the Line of Control.
He was thought to be active in Jammu's Doda and Kishtwar regions.
As per NDTV, he is thought to have avoided security forces by using forested and mountainous routes.
Sources told the outlet Thoker was seen briefly in in Kishtwar before reaching Anantnag.
He is thought to have traversed the hilly belts of Tral or via tracks terrorists used before.
Thoker is believed to have gone to ground in Anantnag.
Intelligence said he gave refuge to at least one of the Pakistani nationals with him – either in forest encampments or hideouts in the village.
Thoker at this time is thought to have gotten in touch with sleeper cells.
Officials think Thoker was on the lookout for a chance to launch a high-profile attack.
People stand near the debris of the house of Adil Thoker, linked to the Pahalgam terror attack, after its demolition by authorities in Bijbehara in Anantnag district. PTI
At this time, India was also reopening tourist spots in the region after the Amarnath Yatra including Baisaran meadow.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The Jammu and Kashmir police identified Thoker as one of the gunmen alongside Musa and Ali Bhai aka Talha Bhai, as per NDTV.
The men are thought to have used the aliases of Moosa, Yunus and Asif to hide their identities.
A source told The Times of India that Thoker is thought to have used his knowledge of the terrain in Baisaran to guide the terrorists.
Thoker is thought to helped them traverse the area, provide shelter for them, scout the area, plan the attack and their escape route.
A massive manhunt for the gunmen is on.
According to News18, the houses of Thoker and Sheikh have been demolished.
Explosives were supposedly found on the premises during the search operation, prompting the security forces to evacuate the occupants of the houses as well as neighbours to safety before they went off.
As per The Times of India, the police in Anantnag have announced a Rs 20 lakh reward for information leading to Thoker's capture.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
As per Deccan Chronicle, Thoker was also a close aide of terrorist commander Uzair Khan, who has joined the TRF under the alias 'Usman Ghazi.'
Khan was killed in September 2023 in one of Jammu and Kashmir's longest anti-terror ops, as per Deccan Chronicle.
India has taken a slew of steps against Pakistan including downgrading diplomatic ties, revoking of all visas issued to Pakistani nationals, suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, expelling Pakistan's military attaches, suspension of the over six-decade-old Indus Water Treaty and immediate shutting down of the Attari land-transit post in view of the cross-border links to the Pahalgam terror attack.
With inputs from agencies
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Indian Express
19 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Bengal Assembly Resolution on Pahalgam terror Attack: Mamata slams Centre, says ‘Total failure, colossal lapse in internal security'
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday demanded the resignation of the BJP government at the Centre over the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 men, mostly tourists, were killed, calling it a 'total failure of the government' and a 'colossal lapse' in internal security. Speaking in the Assembly during the passing of a resolution commending the Indian armed forces for their precision strikes on terror hubs in Pakistan during Operation Sindoor – though the resolution did not mention its name – the chief minister said India had a 'golden opportunity' to reclaim Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) during last month's military conflict but failed to act decisively as she questioned the foreign policy of the BJP government. 'We had an opportunity to take control of PoK. Instead, Pakistan has been allowed in a committee on terrorism created by the UN. Is there a flaw in our foreign policy?' she said. Demanding accountability from the Centre for what she called a 'colossal lapse' in internal security during the Pahalgam terror attack, the chief minister said: 'When terrorists attacked, there were no police there. Kashmir police is not controlled by the state government. Those who were attacked by the terrorists repeatedly asked for help. But no police personnel, Army men were there to help them… Why were no security forces or police personnel present at the spot? We don't know the attackers in Pahalgam till date. No one has been arrested…Why? How did such an attack happen in a high-security zone.. This is a total failure of government, a total failure of agencies.' Asserting that 'we don't support terrorism; it has no religion, caste, or creed', Banerjee said those responsible for the Pahalgam killings must be brought to justice without delay. She praised the Indian military action, stating, 'There was a need for teaching them a lesson. We salute the bravery of our armed forces.' Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadshows following Operation Sindoor, the TMC chief said that he was only 'busy advertising himself'. 'You just roam around promoting sindoor. We respect sindoor. You don't respect women. Why didn't the Prime Minister visit Rajouri, Poonch sites (hit by Pakistan shelling)?' she asked. Accusing the BJP of trying to politicise the valour of the armed forces with an eye on elections, she also recalled how the BJP allegedly politicised the Pulwama terror attack in the past and warned against similar attempts to 'provoke unrest' ahead of the upcoming general elections. Pointing to the BJP legislators, who chanted 'Modi Modi', Banerjee said: 'Apnader bhoi laage… Election aele ekta Pulwama korte hobe, eta jeno na hoi ('We are afraid of you…when election comes, do another Pulwama, that should not happen)'. She was referring to Pulwama terror attack in which a suicide bomber targeted a convoy of the CRPF, killing nearly 40 personnel, on Februaray 14, 2019, months ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The CM also questioned why the Prime Minister or Defence Minister Rajnath Singh did not visit any foreign country instead had sent parliamentary delegations composed of MPs from Opposition parties. 'You needed to send your own minister, your Defence Minister. You should have gone yourself. Instead of you going, you sent the opposition parties, they did that job. That's why I thank them for doing their job brilliantly,' she said. Seven parliamentary delegations were sent to major global capitals to reinforce India's diplomatic messaging following Operation Sindoor. Amidst the ruckus, Banerjee continued her attack on the Centre, raising questions, and the recent appointment of Pakistan as the vice chair of the UN's anti-terror committee. 'Pakistan has become the vice chair of the UN's anti-terror committee. How? Were we lacking in diplomatic relations?' she asked, while calling External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar 'a good person, a capable bureaucrat.' Pakistan, a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the 2025-26 term, will chair the Council's Taliban Sanctions Committee for 2025 and will be vice-chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the 15-nation UN organ. She also expressed concern about India's diplomatic strategy with respect to Pakistan. 'I don't know if there is an issue with our diplomacy, as Pakistan is still getting loans from the IMF, instead of being cornered internationally,' the CM said. She added, 'I support the resolution because I think this strike was important to send a strong message. I pay my respects to those who lost their lives. Terrorism can never be forgiven.' Banerjee referred to reports of Pakistani spies being arrested from Gujarat, the home state of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. 'How did information from Modi-Shah's state reach Pakistan?' she asked. Tempers flared in the House when BJP legislators interrupted her speech. Banerjee shot back, calling the BJP 'uncivilised' and 'liars'. 'You are fake Hindus. My voice will drown out your noise. You only promote yourselves and insult the people of this country,' she said, addressing the BJP benches amid loud sloganeering from both the opposition and treasury benches. With PTI Atri Mitra is a Special Correspondent of The Indian Express with more than 20 years of experience in reporting from West Bengal, Bihar and the North-East. He has been covering administration and political news for more than ten years and has a keen interest in political development in West Bengal. Atri holds a Master degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University and Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. He is also an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. He started his career with leading vernacular daily the Anandabazar Patrika, and worked there for more than fifteen years. He worked as Bihar correspondent for more than three years for Anandabazar Patrika. He covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections. He also worked with News18-Bangla and covered the Bihar Lok Sabha election in 2019. ... Read More


Time of India
19 minutes ago
- Time of India
Six firms booked for cheating medical device company of 2.23cr
Surat: Vesu police have registered a case of cheating against the proprietors of six firms from various states for allegedly duping a Surat-based medical device manufacturing company of Rs 2.23 crore. The case was filed following a complaint by Chintan Kapadiya, director of Envision Scientific Pvt Ltd. According to the complaint, Envision Scientific and its associate company, Concept Medical Research Pvt Ltd, supplied medical devices to the six accused firms over the past seven years. Despite repeated notices, emails and payment reminders, the firms allegedly failed to clear their dues. The companies named in the FIR include: Sakshi Enterprise (Raipur, Chhattisgarh), Bright Cardio Care (Perambalur, Tamil Nadu), SVR Medical Technologies (Thane), Meditree Health Solutions (Hyderabad), Hindustan Enterprises (Ranchi), Infinite Medical Solutions (Mumbai). The products supplied included a range of medical devices such as Albuminous, Mitigator, Nostrum and MagicTouch, among others. Kapadiya stated that both Envision Scientific and Concept Medical, which also operates a manufacturing unit in the Sachin industrial area, have faced continuous delays and non-payment from these firms, despite fulfilling all delivery obligations. Vesu police have booked all six firms under relevant sections of the IPC for cheating and initiated an investigation into the matter.


News18
27 minutes ago
- News18
'TMC Extends Full Support To...': BJP's Suvendu Adhikari After Privilege Motion In Assembly
Last Updated: Adhikari's heated remarks came after TMC moved a motion for breach of privilege in the Assembly against Adhikari for his alleged derogatory remarks against CM Mamata Banerjee. Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), accusing it of supporting terrorism and fostering extremism in the state. Adhikari's heated remarks came after TMC moved a motion for breach of privilege in the Assembly against Adhikari for his alleged derogatory remarks against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. 'The TMC party extends full support to terrorism and extremists… People of Mamata Banerjee's party are turning Bengal into a valley of extremists and are protecting them," Adhikari alleged. On Tuesday afternoon, ministers Chandrima Bhattacharya, Shobhandev Chatterjee, Arup Biswas, and Indranil Sen submitted a notice for Privilege Motion against Adhikari to Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee on behalf of the state's ruling party. The ruling party alleged that on Tuesday, Suvendu Adhikari accused the Chief Minister of 'speaking in favour of Pakistan" outside the Assembly chamber. Earlier in the day, the West Bengal Assembly also passed a resolution expressing appreciation for the Indian armed forces for their recent operations targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The resolution also condemned the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 people—most of them tourists—lost their lives. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed sorrow over the tragic incident and paid tribute to the victims. 'We do not support terrorism in any way. In Pahalgam, tourists lost their lives. We condemn this incident. Three victims were from Bengal. During the incident, one Muslim man (Adil Hussain Shah) opposed them and sacrificed his life. We salute and pay tribute to him also," Banerjee said. She also noted that West Bengal was the only state to bring forward such a resolution in its Assembly. Just days earlier, on Sunday, Adhikari had also accused the Chief Minister of shielding extremist groups and anti-national elements, claiming she was providing protection to Jamaat Hefazat and other radical forces. First Published: June 10, 2025, 23:18 IST