New Details ! Terrorists Trek 22 Hours Through Rugged Terrain to Carry Out Pahalgam Attack: Sources
In a chilling revelation, investigators found that the terrorists behind the Pahalgam attack trekked nearly 22 hours through rough terrain before killing 26 people in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baisaran valley.
Investigative sources have revealed that the four terrorists who unleashed terror in Pahalgam’s Baisaran valley on April 22 undertook a gruelling 20-22 hour trek through rugged terrain from the Kokernag forests. The attack, which left 26 people dead, is one of the deadliest incidents in the region in recent years.
According to officials, the group consisted of three Pakistani terrorists and one local militant, identified as Adil Thokar. During the assault, the attackers snatched mobile phones from a tourist and a local resident, sources said.
Thokar, who initially joined the Hizbul Mujahideen in 2018, had legally crossed over into Pakistan, where he underwent advanced training with the Lashkar-e-Taiba. He returned to Kashmir in 2024 and has since been providing critical logistical support to Pakistani terrorists, guiding them through the treacherous terrains of South Kashmir.
Sources added that his expertise in navigating the area was key in executing the attack without early detection.
Forensic investigations confirmed that the terrorists used AK-47 and M4 assault rifles during the massacre, with recovered cartridge shells offering vital clues.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of horror: two terrorists emerged from behind shops, forcing victims to recite the Kalma before shooting them at point-blank range. Simultaneously, two others opened fire near the zipline area, causing widespread panic and chaos.
A crucial breakthrough emerged from a local photographer who, while perched atop a tree, recorded videos of the attack. Investigators believe these visuals will play a pivotal role in reconstructing the events leading up to the carnage.
Following orders from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has formally begun taking over the probe. NIA teams, supported by forensic experts, have been stationed at the attack site since Wednesday, combing through the valley for evidence.
Officials are also verifying eyewitness accounts and thoroughly examining all entry and exit routes used by the terrorists.
An NIA source stated, “We are systematically mapping the terrorists’ movements and their support network. No angle is being left unchecked.”
The Pahalgam attack marks the deadliest terror strike in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370. The massacre has reignited tensions between India and Pakistan, with India suspending key bilateral agreements and expelling Pakistani nationals.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his recent ‘Mann Ki Baat’ broadcast, vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice, stating, “India will pursue the terrorists to the ends of the Earth.”
Investigators are now focused on dismantling the broader terror network involved in planning the attack. Officials suggest further arrests and raids are imminent as the probe deepens.
The NIA, meanwhile, is expected to formally register a case under anti-terror laws in the coming days, with more forensic and intelligence inputs likely to shape the investigation.
