Srinagar: In a major breakthrough, Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested a key Lashkar-e-Taiba (TRF) operative for providing logistical support to the terrorists involved in the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people.
The accused, identified as Mohammad Yousuf Katari (26) of Kulgam district, was taken into custody after sustained questioning and detailed analysis of weapons and electronic devices recovered during Operation Mahadev in July. Katari has been remanded to 15 days of police custody until October 6.
“Srinagar Police have arrested an OGW (Overground Worker) from South Kashmir, identified as Mohd Yousuf Katari. He played a role in providing logistical support to the terrorists killed in Operation Mahadev,” a police official said.
Katari has been booked under Section 7/25 of the Arms Act and multiple sections of the UAPA (13, 16, 18, 20, and 38).
During interrogation, Katari admitted to arranging and supplying a mobile phone to the terrorists on their instructions. A technical investigation revealed that a charger recovered from the Dachigam encounter site matched a VIVO phone purchased online. Data shared by Flipkart traced the purchase to a man named Musaib Ahmad, who later sold the device to Katari confirming the supply chain used to aid the attackers.
On April 22, heavily armed Pakistani terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists in Pahalgam, killing at least 26 people. The attack was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot. In response, India carried out pre-dawn airstrikes on May 7, targeting nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, killing an estimated 100 terrorists.
Following intelligence inputs, security forces launched Operation Mahadev in late May to track the attackers. On July 28, Army para commandos killed three top militants, including Sulieman alias Asif the alleged mastermind of the Pahalgam attack in an encounter at Mulnar, near Dachigam National Park. Two other terrorists, Jibran (linked to the Sonamarg Tunnel attack) and Hamza Afghani, were also eliminated.
The operation led to the recovery of multiple weapons, including AK-47 and M9 rifles, as well as electronic devices. This evidence ultimately helped investigators track down Katari and confirm his role in aiding the attackers.
