TRF only a smokescreen, Lashkar emerges as key suspect in Valley attack

NEW DELHI: Pakistan-based terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba has emerged as the prime suspect behind the massacre of 26 people in Pahalgam, with sketches prepared by security agencies based on eyewitness accounts pointing to the involvement of Musa, a hardcore Pakistani LeT operative involved in the past several attacks in Kashmir, and a local terrorist who had trained in Pakistan before infiltrating into J&K.

So far, the involvement of around 5-6 terrorists, based on eyewitness accounts, has emerged. These included Pakistanis, who were the main assailants, and at least two locals - Adil Thokar from Anantnag and Asif Sheikh from Awantipora - who acted as guides and arranged the logistics for the attack team, including shelter.

Though The Resistance Front (TRF) has taken responsibility for the killings, senior officers of the security establishment said TRF was only a smokescreen created by LeT to project its terror acts as "local resistance" and lend them legitimacy before international audiences.

Sources said overground workers and known terror sympathisers were being questioned not only in Anantnag but several other districts like Srinagar, Kulgam and Pulwama to establish the identity and background of the perpetrators as well as their local supporters.

"They are being questioned to find out who arranged shelter and other logistics for the attack party."