New Delhi: The conspiracy behind the deadly attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baisaran Valley was underway at least a week before the assault took place, with digital evidence revealing that preparations had begun by mid April.
Investigators examining the mobile phone of a terrorist killed during Operation Mahadev recovered map screenshots dated April 15 and 16 that highlighted locations near Baisaran in Pahalgam. The findings suggest that the attackers had already identified and marked potential target areas well before the attack was carried out on April 22.
The digital records indicate that the terrorists were using a trekking and navigation application to access coordinates and movement instructions allegedly shared by a Pakistan based handler identified as Sajid Jatt. Authorities believe the information helped the group navigate through the difficult terrain and plan their movements with precision.
Three terrorists identified as Faisal Jatt alias Suleman, Habeeb Tahir alias Jibran and Hamza Afghani were later killed in the Dachigam forests near Srinagar during a joint operation involving the Indian Army, CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police.
Investigators also named two local residents as accused in the case, alleging that they knowingly provided food, shelter and logistical assistance to the attackers at a seasonal mud hut a day before the assault.
The April 22 attack claimed the lives of 26 people, including 25 tourists and a local pony operator, making it one of the most devastating terror incidents in the Kashmir Valley in decades.
The incident triggered a sharp deterioration in relations between India and Pakistan and was followed by India’s military response under Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror infrastructure across the border.
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