Special Correspondent | Srinagar
A chilling image of one of the terrorists involved in the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 tourists has surfaced, prompting a more aggressive response from security agencies. In the photograph, the attacker is seen holding a gun, but his face remains obscured, complicating efforts to confirm his identity.
Preliminary analysis suggests the image was captured minutes after the attack at the scene. The photo has now been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is working closely with the forensic team to use digital enhancement tools to identify the assailant.
In the aftermath of the attack, a massive joint search operation by the Army, CRPF, Jammu & Kashmir Police, and Special Operations Group is underway in and around the Baisaran valley of Pahalgam, the location of the attack. Drones and helicopters are being used to monitor and trace any terrorist movements in the forested areas.
The NIA has already released sketches of two more suspects believed to be involved in the attack. Officials say the objective is to track down not only the attackers but also the masterminds behind the plot.
Eyewitness accounts have revealed a deeply disturbing detail—the attackers reportedly asked tourists about their religion before opening fire. According to some survivors, those who failed to recite the “Kalima” were shot point-blank.
The attack has claimed lives of tourists from Pune, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi, with families still in shock. Bodies of the deceased have been moved from Pahalgam hospital to Srinagar for further procedures and eventual repatriation.
The Union and State governments have ordered immediate medical assistance for the injured, and both the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister have condemned the attack in strong terms, calling it a “cowardly act meant to disturb peace and harmony.”
Nationwide outrage has followed, with security agencies on high alert across key tourist locations in Jammu & Kashmir.
