Pahalgam attack: Terrorists wore body cams, wanted maximum casualities

A preliminary investigation into the devastating terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir has revealed that remote Baisaran was deliberately chosen because of the lack of security in the area, which enabled the terrorists to inflict the maximum damage, said a news report.

The assault, which claimed 26 lives—mostly tourists—was carried out by terrorists who had conducted extensive reconnaissance and selected the remote Baisaran meadows because it lacked any significant security presence, said an India Today report quoting sources.

Situated 6.5 km from Pahalgam town, Baisaran is accessible only by foot or pony, making it difficult for emergency responders to reach swiftly.

The militants reportedly wore helmet-mounted body cameras to record the gruesome strike.

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Scenes of horror

According to news reports, the terrorists rounded up the tourists, segregated them by gender, confirmed their identities, and opened fire.

While three to four militants fired indiscriminately with AK-47 rifles at close range, some were shot from a distance, similar to sniper fire. Many died from excessive blood loss before help could arrive.

Further, sources told the media that six terrorists, who were mainly Pakistani nationals and Kashmiris, were involved in the killings. They were helped by local collaborators.

Prior to the attack, the terrorists allegedly established hideouts in the densely forested area. Authorities believe the attackers may have since changed their location with the assistance of local terrorists and sleeper agents.

Also Read: Kashmir dailies go black to protest Pahalgam terror attack

Who is the TRF?

The Resistance Front (TRF) has allegedly claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam massacre. Formed in 2019 as a proxy for Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), TRF rebranded jihadist militancy with a 'resistance' narrative.

In January 2023, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) designated TRF as a “terrorist organisation” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, citing its involvement in terror propaganda, recruitment of terrorists, infiltration, and smuggling of arms and narcotics from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir.

The TRF emerged as an online outfit following the abrogation of Article 370 and the withdrawal of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in August 2019.

In post-2019 Kashmir, the outfit aimed to project ‘resistance’ in a popular sense to bring distance from an Islamic name and give it a neutral character.

Backed by Pakistan, it has orchestrated multiple strikes in the Valley under this neutral-sounding banner to mask its LeT origins.

Its commander, Sheikh Sajjad Gul, is a designated terrorist under the Fourth Schedule of the UAPA, and TRF reportedly has the highest militant casualty rate in the Valley in recent years.

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NIA leads probe

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is now leading the probe. It has begun recording statements and collecting forensic evidence, including bullet casings and soil samples from the scene of the massacre.

Mobile data from the region are also under analysis as authorities track the attackers, believed to be regrouping with local sleeper cells. Several individuals near Baisaran have also been rounded up for questioning.

A wreath-laying ceremony for the victims was organised in Srinagar with Union home minister Amit Shah and other dignitaries in attendance.