Srinagar: Adil Ahmed Thoker, a central figure in the horrific April 22 Pahalgam attack that left 26 dead, reportedly trained with terror outfits in Pakistan before sneaking back into India with a militant group last year, according to intelligence sources cited by NDTV.
Thoker, hailing from Gurre village in Bijbehara, Anantnag, initially left for Pakistan in 2018 on a student visa — but soon disappeared from the radar. Officials believe he had already been radicalized before departure and quickly fell into Lashkar-e-Taiba’s network, where he allegedly underwent arms and tactical training.
In October 2024, Thoker re-entered India through the volatile Poonch-Rajouri sector, accompanied by three to four militants, including Pakistani national Hashim Musa, alias Suleman, another prime suspect. Using dense forests and rugged terrain to avoid detection, the group is believed to have briefly surfaced in Kishtwar before vanishing into the Anantnag wilderness.
Sources suggest Thoker and his associates revived old terror networks, meticulously plotting the Pahalgam massacre to strike just as tourism was rebounding in Baisaran — amplifying the attack’s impact.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police have named Thoker, Suleman, and another Pakistani operative, Ali Bhai alias Talha Bhai, as the chief conspirators. A Rs 20 lakh reward has been announced for any information leading to their capture.
A sweeping manhunt is underway across Anantnag, Pahalgam, and surrounding forests. In a crackdown on Thursday, security forces demolished the homes of Thoker and Asif Sheikh of Tral after finding explosives hidden inside. Sheikh is under scrutiny for allegedly providing logistics and technical aid to the terror cell.
Security agencies remain on high alert, racing to dismantle the network behind one of Kashmir’s deadliest attacks in recent years.
