In a dramatic escalation of the Pahalgam terror attack investigation, the homes of two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives — Adil Hussain Thokar and Asif Sheikh — were obliterated on Thursday in separate incidents across South Kashmir, as security forces closed in on suspects linked to the April 22 carnage.
According to officials, both houses were being searched for evidence when explosives, believed to have been pre-planted, triggered powerful blasts, reducing the structures to rubble. Adil Thokar’s residence in Anantnag’s Bijbihara and Asif Sheikh’s house in Tral, Pulwama, were both completely destroyed.
“The explosions occurred during search operations. Preliminary investigations suggest that explosives were stored inside the houses, likely to target security personnel,” said a senior officer familiar with the developments.
Thokar is considered a prime accused in the Baisaran Valley massacre, while Sheikh is believed to have played a key role in planning and logistics.
The gruesome attack in the Pahalgam region — a tourist hotspot — left 28 dead, including civilians, a pony guide, and off-duty personnel from the Indian Navy, Air Force, and Intelligence Bureau. It marked one of the deadliest strikes in Kashmir in recent years.
Responsibility was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group of LeT known for targeting civilians and security forces alike. Officials confirm the TRF operatives involved include two Pakistani nationals, currently the focus of an intense manhunt.
In a bid to track them down, the Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday released sketches of the foreign terrorists and announced a ₹20 lakh reward for information leading to their arrest.
“The public’s assistance could prove vital. These terrorists are not just a threat to security forces but to every civilian in the region,” a police spokesperson said.
Authorities believe the coordinated strike was aimed at destabilizing the region ahead of key political and tourist activities, echoing the broader concerns of cross-border terror sponsorship.
Security forces continue to comb high-altitude routes and forested zones near the LoC, suspecting that the Pakistani terrorists may attempt to exfiltrate the region.
