Pahalgam terror attack suspect Asif Sheikh's house blown up in blast in J&K's Pulwama
The house of Asif Sheikh, one of the militants believed to be involved in the April 22 Pahalgam attack, has been demolished in Tral, Pulwama district of south Kashmir.
According to information, security forces noticed some suspicious items during a search operation at the residence. As a precaution, they retreated. A large explosion followed, badly damaging the house.
Sheikh is believed to be part of the militant group that attacked the Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam. Eyewitnesses reported that around 2.40pm, militants entered the meadow, located four kilometres from Pahalgam, and separated men from women and children before opening fire.
The attack killed 24 tourists, a local horseman named Adil Shah, and a Nepali national. Several others were injured.
After the shooting, the militants escaped into nearby forests. The incident caused panic among visitors, prompting many tourists to cut short their visit to Kashmir early.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police have released sketches and names of the three militants believed to be involved. All three are linked to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) group. A cash reward of Rs 20 lakh has been announced for information leading to each of them. The militants whose sketches have been released include Adil Hussain Thoker, a resident of Anantnag (local)
Ali Bhai, also known as Talha Bhai (Believed to be Pakistani), and Asim Musa, also known as Suleiman (Believed to be Pakistani).
The police have assured that informants' identities will be kept strictly confidential. Tip-offs can be shared by contacting the SSP Anantnag at 9596777666, the police control room at 9596777669, or via email at dpoanantnag-jk@nic.in.
The attack on tourists has been widely condemned in Kashmir by political parties, the chamber of commerce, tour operators and civil society members. A complete strike was observed against the killings in Kashmir on April 23. The strike evoked a complete response. Shops, educational institutions and traffic remained shut for the day.
India