Ganderbal attack: Local militant who joined Lashkar-e-Taiba last year prime suspect

According to sources, the man went missing from his home in 2023. He emerged as a suspect after security agencies looked at CCTV footage that shows the attackers entering the workers’ camp.

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CCTV footage of the two gunmen on October 20.

A 25-year-old local militant working for the Lashkar-e-Taiba, from Kashmir’s Kulgam district, is believed to be one of the attackers involved in the October 20 terror strike that killed seven employees of a construction firm in Ganderbal, sources in central intelligence agencies said.

According to sources, the man went missing from his home in 2023. He emerged as a suspect after security agencies looked at CCTV footage that shows the attackers entering the workers’ camp.

In the footage, two men are seen carrying an American-made M4 carbine assault rifle and an AK-47, spending around seven minutes at the camp before fleeing the spot.

Read | CCTV footage of Jammu and Kashmir attack: Militants had M4 carbine, AK-47; at camp for 7 mins

According to sources, the footage was shown to some locals from the Kulgam village where one of the men is believed to be from, and they indicated it looked like the same person.

In Kashmir, too, police sources confirmed one of the attackers looked like a local militant from Kulgam. “We retrieved CCTV footage of the incident and shared it with our sister agencies. One of the two attackers looks like a local militant from south Kashmir,” said a senior officer.

Ganderbal attack: Local militant who joined LeT last year prime suspect

At the funeral of Dr Shahnawaz Dar, who was among the seven persons killed in the terror attack in J&K’s Ganderbal district. (Express photo by Shuaib Masoodi)

Sources said that after he went missing in July 2023, the man joined The Resistance Front, which police say is a shadow group of the LeT.

According to police sources, he has a Bachelor of Arts degree and used to drive a truck before joining the militant ranks. Sources also said the family does not have a past record of any militant links.

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According to sources, police are in touch with his family, who are not aware of his current whereabouts. “We are trying to find out more details about him and questioning some of his associates to get leads,” a source said.

Seven employees of infra company gunned down in Kashmir terror attack

Security forces cordon off the site of the terror attack at Gagangir in Ganderbal district. (PTI)

On October 20, seven men — six from outside Kashmir and a local doctor — were killed in the attack. They were working for infrastructure company APCO Infratech, which is constructing the Z-Morh tunnel on the Srinagar-Sonamarg highway.

“After the incident, multiple agencies, including officials of the National Investigation Agency, visited the crime scene. They found CCTV footage of the incident, which shows the attack took place around 7.25 pm, when some employees were sitting in the dining area and others were heading for dinner. The camp is just below an approach road to the tunnel, and is surrounded by barren mountains on one side and the Srinagar-Leh national highway on the other,” an official said.

Mahender Singh Manral

Mahender Singh Manral is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. He is known for his impactful and breaking stories. He covers the Ministry of Home Affairs, Investigative Agencies, National Investigative Agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, Law Enforcement Agencies, Paramilitary Forces, and internal security. Prior to this, Manral had extensively reported on city-based crime stories along with that he also covered the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government for a decade. He is known for his knack for News and a detailed understanding of stories. He also worked with Mail Today as a senior correspondent for eleven months. He has also worked with The Pioneer for two years where he was exclusively covering crime beat. During his initial days of the career he also worked with The Statesman newspaper in the national capital, where he was entrusted with beats like crime, education, and the Delhi Jal Board. A graduate in Mass Communication, Manral is always in search of stories that impact lives. ... Read More

Bashaarat Masood

Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. Expertise and Experience Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development. Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor. Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans: Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance. Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population. Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley. Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More

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