In a major development following the gruesome terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam that left 26 dead, investigating agencies have released sketches of three suspected terrorists believed to be involved in the assault. The suspects have been identified as Asif Fauji, Suleman Shah, and Abu Talha, based on eyewitness accounts from survivors of the attack.
According to security officials, the sketches were prepared using detailed inputs from those who were close enough to witness the attackers in action. Initial findings reveal that the terrorists had specifically segregated victims and checked male identities before firing, suggesting a targeted operation.
One of the released images also shows a terrorist holding an automatic weapon, captured running through the meadow. These visuals have been shared with local forces to aid in the intensified manhunt launched across the Union Territory.
The attack occurred around 3 PM on April 22, when armed men opened fire at Baisaran, a scenic meadow near Pahalgam, killing mostly tourists. Among the victims were two foreigners (from UAE and Nepal) and two locals, with the rest being holidaymakers from Karnataka, Maharashtra, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Ten others were seriously injured in what has become the deadliest attack in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama strike.
The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy outfit of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the attack. The group, formed after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, has been active mostly through online channels and often targets non-locals and tourists in the Valley.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached Pahalgam on Wednesday morning and laid wreaths in honor of the deceased. He met with survivors and victims’ families, assuring swift justice. The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced ex-gratia compensation of Rs 10 lakh for each deceased’s family, Rs 2 lakh for the seriously injured, and Rs 1 lakh for the injured.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level security meeting with NSA Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting is expected later in the day to decide India’s strategic response.
Security has been tightened across the Jammu region, with multiple protests erupting in places like Doda, Kishtwar, and Gujjar Nagar. Calls for bandh and slogans against Pakistan have amplified the public outcry, as citizens mourn and demand decisive action.
