Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police have announced a reward of ₹20 lakh for information leading to the arrest of terrorists involved in the recent massacre at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam. The police identified the suspects as Pakistani nationals and local Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives Adil Hussain Thoker, Ali Bhai, and Hashim Musa, who are believed to have carried out the April 22 attack that left 26 civilians dead, including 25 tourists and a local resident.
The announcement comes amid intensified counterterrorism operations across the Union Territory. In Pahalgam, security forces have launched a massive tech-assisted manhunt, deploying drones, helicopters, electronic surveillance, and sniffer dogs to locate the perpetrators. Clear directives have been issued to eliminate those responsible for the attack.
In addition to the Pahalgam operation, two other anti-terrorist operations are underway, one in Poonch and another in Kulgam. A soldier lost his life during an ongoing encounter in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur district, underscoring the high-risk nature of the mission.
Reacting strongly to the attack, the Indian government has suspended the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 and taken a series of diplomatic measures against Pakistan. These include shutting the Attari border crossing, asking all Pakistani nationals to leave India within 48 hours, and reducing India’s diplomatic staff in Islamabad by 70 percent. The Pakistani military attaché in New Delhi has also been declared persona non grata.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the attack site on Wednesday, sending a stern message to those behind the massacre. An all-party meeting has been convened by the Centre to brief political leaders on the evolving situation and the government’s response to the terror strike.
With IANS inputs