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NDTV
01-05-2025
- NDTV
Terrorists Behind Pahalgam Attack Also Killed 6 Labourers, Doctor In 2024
New Delhi: The terror module responsible for the deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam 's Baisaran Valley on April 22, which killed 26 people, has been linked to a prior attack in 2024 in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, where six labourers and a doctor were killed near the Z-Morh tunnel project in Sonamarg. According to sources, both attacks were carried out by the same Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)-backed terror unit. Several operatives involved in the Pahalgam massacre had previously participated in the Z-Morh attack. One of the terrorists behind the 2024 attack, identified as Junaid Ahmed Bhatt, was killed in an encounter in December that year. Subsequently, two more operatives tied to the same group were neutralised. Intelligence now confirms that Lashkar terrorist Hashim Musa, alias Suleman, who has also been implicated in the Pahalgam killings, played a role in the tunnel attack. The Z-Morh Tunnel Attack: October 2024 The Z-Morh tunnel, also known as the Sonamarg tunnel, was attacked in October 2024, when terrorists opened fire on a workers' camp operated by a private construction company. Seven people were killed including six labourers and a doctor. The tunnel, spanning 6.5 kilometres with an additional 6.05 km of approach roads, connects Srinagar to Kargil. Situated at an altitude of 8,562 feet, it is considered a critical project for the region's year-round connectivity. Victims of the tunnel attack included Dr. Shahnawaz from Budgam, Gurmeet Singh from Gurdaspur in Punjab, Mohammad Haneef, Faheem Nasir (safety manager), and Kaleem from Bihar, Anil Kumar Shukla from Madhya Pradesh (mechanical manager), and Shashi Abrol, a designer from Jammu. All were part of the construction workforce stationed at the site. The terrorists torched two company vehicles and abandoned an INSAS rifle at the scene. Pahalgam Massacre: New Revelations The Pahalgam massacre in April 2025, among the deadliest in recent years, is understood to have been planned over several weeks. According to officials involved in the investigation, members of the Lashkar group arrived in Pahalgam on April 15, conducting reconnaissance at four tourist-heavy locations including Baisaran, Aru Valley, Betaab Valley, and a local amusement park. The group ultimately targeted Baisaran, citing lesser security deployment in the area. Intelligence gained from detained Over Ground Workers (OGWs) revealed that the terrorists stayed in the Baisaran Valley for at least two days before executing the attack. On April 22, at around 1:50 PM, they launched their assault, emerging from the surrounding pine forests. Witnesses reported that the attackers interrogated some victims, asking them to recite Islamic verses. Those who failed were shot at point-blank range. Among the 26 killed were 25 tourists and a local pony handler. Two security personnel, one from the Navy and another from the Intelligence Bureau, were also killed. The entire assault lasted less than ten minutes.
NDTV
25-04-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Terror Module That Struck Pahalgam Handled By Lashkar Chief Hafiz Saeed
New Delhi: The terrorist attack in Baisaran valley near Pahalgam, which ended in 26 people dying, has brought a long-active terror module operating in Jammu and Kashmir to the forefront. This terror attack, one of the deadliest since the scrapping of Article 370 in 2019, has triggered high-level diplomatic and security responses from the government against Pakistan, which has been accused of harbouring the handlers and backers of this terrorist module. The attack was carried out by a hardened module affiliated with the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) group, comprising mostly foreign terrorists, with support from local militants, over ground workers from the Valley and under the control of 26/11 attacks mastermind and Lashkar chief Hafiz Saeed. The Module's Past Operations According to sources, this particular module has been active in the Kashmir Valley for a long time. Security agencies believe it has been behind several high-profile attacks across the region, including in Sonamarg, Boota Pathri, and Ganderbal. In October 2024, four individuals, including two Indian Army personnel, were killed in a terror strike at Boota Pathri. That same month, Sonamarg witnessed a deadly assault on tunnel construction workers in which six labourers and a doctor were gunned down. Junaid Ahmed Bhatt Following the Sonamarg massacre, a key figure in the module, Junaid Ahmed Bhatt, an A+ category Lashkar terrorist from Kulgam, was neutralised in an encounter in Dachigam in December 2024. Other members of the group managed to escape, dispersing into nearby forested regions. After a major attack, these terrorists typically go underground, hiding in dense forest hideouts until receiving fresh orders from their handlers in Pakistan. Links to Lashkar Leadership The module is reportedly controlled directly by Lashkar chief Hafiz Saeed and his deputy Saifullah, both believed to be operating from Pakistan. Indian intelligence agencies maintain that the module receives not only ideological but also logistical and tactical guidance from Pakistan's military and its intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The group's composition includes a majority of foreign fighters, but several locals and overground workers from Kashmir are embedded within it, providing support and cover. The Pahalgam Attack In the Pahalgam attack, terrorists struck at three separate locations within the Baisaran valley. According to police sources, five people were killed together at one location, two were shot dead in an open field, and others were targeted near a fencing structure around the valley. Those who managed to jump over the fencing and flee were spared. Survivors have said that the attackers even engaged them in brief conversations before opening fire. The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday released sketches of three suspects linked to the Pahalgam attack. Two are Pakistani nationals: Hashim Musa alias Suleman and Ali Bhai alias Talha. The third, Abdul Hussain Thokar, is a resident of Anantnag in Kashmir. The police have announced a cash reward of Rs 20 lakh for credible information leading to their capture. Security forces also uncovered a hideout used by the module in nearby forests on Thursday. Diplomatic Fallout On Wednesday, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, convened for an emergency meeting. The committee, including Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and senior military and intelligence officials, announced a suite of retaliatory measures. Both India and Pakistan will reduce their diplomatic missions' staff strength from 55 to 30 effective May 1. All military, naval, and air defence personnel at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi have been declared persona non grata and must leave India within a week. Indian advisors in Islamabad will also be withdrawn. The SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme has been suspended for Pakistani nationals, with all existing visas revoked. Pakistani citizens in India under this scheme must exit the country within 48 hours. The Attari-Wagah land border crossing has been closed indefinitely. Pakistanis currently in India have until May 1 to return. India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960. Massive protests erupted outside the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi's diplomatic quarter of Chanakyapuri on Thursday. Security forces were deployed in strength to control the swelling crowds. Across Jammu and Kashmir and several other Indian states, demonstrations were held condemning the attack.
