Indian security agencies have released sketches of three suspected terrorists who targeted non-Muslim tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam city and killed 28 of them on Tuesday, marking one of the worst terror attacks in the Valley in recent years.
The three terrorists have been identified as Asif Fuji, Suleman Shah and Abu Talha, reported India Today.
They are believed to be members of The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Pakistan-based banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
The group included Pakistani terrorists who infiltrated the Valley just days before the attack, intelligence sources told India Today.
Saifullah Kasuri
Intelligence agencies have identified Saifullah Kasuri, alias Khalid, a top LeT commander, as the mastermind of the massacre.
The Indian Army has launched a massive anti-terror operation to nab those behind the attack.
Eyewitnesses told the Indian news channel that while two terrorists spoke in Pashto (indicating Pakistani origin), two of them were locals (Adil and Asif). The local terrorists are from Bijbehara and Tral.
The attack on tourists has drawn worldwide condemnation.
Shutdown in Kashmir
Meanwhile, Kashmir is observing a complete shutdown on Wednesday to protest against the attack.
The shutdown was called by Hurriyat leader and head of Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, in protest against the gruesome killings, reported UNI news agency.
Prominent trade bodies, transport associations, and civil society groups have also supported the strike.
Mainstream political parties, including the National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), have extended their support to the shutdown.
Amit Shah in Kashmir
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is in Kashmir taking stock of the situation, visited the scene of the carnage. He wrote on X: “With a heavy heart, paid last respects to the deceased of the Pahalgam terror attack. Bharat will not bend to terror. The culprits of this dastardly terror attack will not be spared.”
