Terrorists strike again in Pahalgam: five suspected assailants identified

At least five militants, including three from Pakistan, are thought to have opened fire on tourists in Pahalgam’s Baisaran meadow. Sources and reports suggest that two of the assailants may be locals, based on their speech and behavior.

Sketches of the suspects have been released, and authorities have announced a reward of Rs 20 lakh for any information leading to their capture. One of the suspects is believed to have participated in a previous attack on an Indian Air Force convoy, while others are thought to have received training in Pakistan before returning to the Valley in 2017. They are suspected of being affiliated with Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba.

The attackers are assumed to have fled into the higher reaches of the Pir Panjal mountain range. Security forces, including the Army and J&K police, have launched intensive search operations. The attackers are suspected of recording the violence with body-mounted cameras, a technique frequently used for propaganda by terror outfits. Investigators are still working to confirm how the militants infiltrated the region.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has assumed control of the investigation, with senior officers at the crime scene. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also visited Pahalgam and met with the victims’ families, emphasizing the government’s commitment to justice.

Initial reports suggest the victims were shot at close range, primarily in the head and chest. The attackers, who emerged from the jungle, vanished back into the dense forests after the carnage.

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