Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
A preliminary investigation into the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam revealed that it was meticulously planned to trap victims and maximize casualties, top sources said on Wednesday.
The attack, which left 26 people dead, mostly tourists, occurred on Tuesday at the scenic Baisaran meadows, marking one of the worst such incidents targeting civilians in the Valley in recent years.
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Sources indicate that both Pakistani and local Kashmiri terrorists were involved in the attack on tourists. The militants — believed to be six in number — were aided by local collaborators, who conducted thorough reconnaissance of the area before carrying out the attack.
Investigators believe the terrorists specifically chose Baisaran for the attack due to the area’s lack of a significant security presence. The remote location, roughly 6.5 kilometres from Pahalgam and accessible only by foot or pony ride via a dirt track, also meant that rescue efforts would be delayed, further increasing the potential for casualties.
In a chilling revelation, the probe found that the terrorists wore body cams, specifically helmet-mounted cameras, to record the entire sequence of events.
According to sources, three terrorists gathered the tourists together, segregated them into male and female groups, and then ascertained their identities. Some were then shot from a distance, similar to sniper fire; many victims died from blood loss.
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Prior to the attack, the terrorists established hideouts in the densely forested area, according to sources. Authorities believe the attackers may have since changed their location with the assistance of local terrorists and sleeper agents.
Police are seeking details from telecom companies about active mobile numbers in the area. Several individuals near Baisaran have been rounded up for questioning.
The bodies of the victims have been transported to Srinagar, where a wreath-laying ceremony is scheduled to take place later today. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, and top officials from the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and civil administration are expected to participate in the ceremony.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
