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“This local photographer ran for his life when firing began and perched himself on a tree. But he kept videographing the entire terror attack,” a senior official told News18
Indian Army personnel guarding the site of the terror attack in Pahalgam. (Reuters)
A local videographer, who filmed reels for tourists in Baisaran, has emerged as a key witness for the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which began its probe into the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, News18 has exclusively learnt.
Officials revealed that the local photographer captured the entire terror attack as it unfolded.
“This local photographer ran for his life when firing began and perched himself on a tree to escape the bullets. But he kept videographing the event as it unfolded and recorded the entire terror attack,” a senior official told CNN-News18.
The NIA has questioned the videographer and is analysing the videos he shot to identify the terrorists and possible overground workers (OGWs) who may have assisted them.
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
Initial investigations have indicated that four terrorists divided into two groups and fired from two sides of the meadow. According to eyewitness accounts, two gunmen were stationed near snack shops selling refreshments.
“Around 2:30 pm, two terrorists hiding behind the shops emerged. They first asked the non-locals snacking there for their religion. A few were asked to recite the kalma; those who couldn’t were killed,” the officer said.
The NIA believes this was not indiscriminate firing, as initially suspected. “They took specific aim at the head of each identified victim,” agency officials said.
Panic, according to survivors, erupted when the first two terrorists fatally shot four tourists in the head. The other two terrorists then emerged from the vicinity of the zip line and began firing at the fleeing crowd.
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PHONES SNATCHED
The terrorists also reportedly seized two mobile phones, one belonging to a tourist and the other to a local. Agencies are tracking both phones, as they could provide crucial evidence regarding the terrorists’ current location or movements. However, sources revealed that both devices have been switched off since the incident.
The NIA has also recovered empty cartridges of AK-47 and M4 rifles. “M4s have been used by Pakistani terrorists since the Afghan war ended, serving as further proof of who is behind this,” an intelligence agency official commented.
LOCAL TERRORIST IDENTIFIED
Investigative teams believe that at least one of the four terrorists involved was a local, Adil Thokar. According to the JK police dossier, Thokar was radicalised and joined Hizbul Mujahideen in 2018. He allegedly crossed over to Pakistan on valid documents, leaving Hizbul Mujahideen to join Lashkar-e-Taiba.
After training with Lashkar, he reportedly returned to the Valley in 2024.
It is alleged that Thokar has since assisted Pakistani terrorists with logistics and even acted as a guide in other terror attacks.