At least seven militants, largely from Pakistan, carried out the terror attack that killed at least 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir라이브 바카라 Pahalgam on Tuesday, the Indian Express said. Two are suspected to be local.
A team from the National Investigation Agency reached the scene of the crime on Wednesday. One of the militants, identified as Adil, had recently returned from Pakistan, a central agency source told The Indian Express.
“The Urdu that they (the foreign terrorists) spoke is spoken in certain parts of Pakistan. At least two local militants are suspected to be accompanying them but we don’t yet know which part of Kashmir they came from,” an official told The Indian Express.
What weapons did they use?
According to the preliminary investigation, there were at least four militants, dressed in camouflage clothes and kurta-pyjamas. They came to the Baisaran meadow and opened fire with American-manufactured M4 carbine assault rifles and AK-47s.
Two terrorists possessed M4 carbine assault rifles and the remaining two held AK-47s. “After reaching the meadow, the terrorists first held the tourists hostage at gunpoint and then asked all women and children to stay away. They fired from close range after inquiring about identities. They later resorted to indiscriminate firing,” the source said.
At least 50-70 spent cartridges were retrieved from the incident site by Tuesday evening.
How did the militants escape?
The assailants are believed to have fled to the higher reaches of the Pir Panjal range where search operations are being conducted by the Army, the central paramilitary forces and the J&K police, The Indian Express reported.
It is still not known how the militants entered Kashmir or for how long they had been in the region.
“It is still being ascertained. There are some indications based on existing vulnerabilities on the border and some inputs that have been received but nothing is confirmed. Agencies are verifying the details and the border is being checked for signs of infiltration,” the officer said.
According to the source quoted, the attackers were also wearing body cameras which has become a “normal practice these days.”
“All attacks in Jammu in the past three years have been shot through body or gun-mounted cameras. These videos are used for propaganda purposes. The LeT (Lashkar-e-Taiba) has already come out with propaganda material using the footage,” this officer said.
What do the militants look like?
According to PTI, central agencies identified three assailants involved in the attack - named Asif Fuji, Suleman Shah, and Abu Talha. They have also released sketches and photos of the militants - made with the help of survivors. The authorities also declared a reward of Rs. 20 lakh each for any information on them.
