Investigative Units Release Names of 14 Suspected Militants in Jammu and Kashmir During Inquiry into Pahalgam Terror Incident
In the wake of a brutal terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, intelligence agencies have announced the names of 14 local terrorists believed to be actively collaborating with Pakistan-based terror outfits. These homegrown extremists are suspected of providing crucial logistical and ground-level support to the foreign terrorists operating in the Union Territory.
Of these dangerous individuals, 8 are affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), 3 with Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and another 3 with Hizbul Mujahideen. Their identities include Adil Rehman Dentoo, Asif Ahmed Sheikh, Ahsan Ahmed Sheikh, Haris Nazir, Aamir Nazir Wani, Yawar Ahmed Bhat, Asif Ahmed Khanday, Naseer Ahmed Wani, Shahid Ahmed Kutay, Aamir Ahmed Dar, Adnan Safi Dar, Zubair Ahmed Wani, Haroon Rashid Ganai, and Zakir Ahmed Ganie.
The terrorists are primarily active in South Kashmir regions such as Pulwama and Anantnag. Intelligence agencies have intensified their efforts to dismantle the support networks facilitating cross-border terrorism in the wake of the attack on 26 tourists in Pahalgam. Over a dozen security personnel are on high alert, conducting coordinated operations across the affected regions.
Dentoo, a rising LeT commander, is the most notorious on the list, acting as Sopore district commander of the banned organization. Asif Ahmed Sheikh of JeM is the district commander of Awantipora and has been actively involved in terrorist activities since 2022, while Ahsan Ahmed Sheikh is based in Pulwama and has been providing logistical aid to LeT.
Local terrorists in Shopian district, like Asif Ahmed Khanday, Naseer Ahmed Wani, Shahid Ahmed Kutay, and Aamir Ahmed Dar, have been identified as active members and aides to Hizbul Mujahideen and LeT. Zubair Ahmed Wani, a high-profile A+ category terrorist, serves as the Chief Operational Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, continually targeting security forces since 2018.
Security forces have launched a manhunt for Haroon Rashid Ganai, an active member of Hizbul Mujahideen, who returned to South Kashmir from Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir following terrorist training in 2018. Meanwhile, Zakir Ahmed Ganie, a LeT affiliate, is known for his role in attacks on security forces and targeted killings in the Kulgam district.
Since the release of the list of these 14 local terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack, investigators have been working tirelessly to track down these criminals and dismantle the support networks that enable cross-border terrorism. Authorities have announced rewards of up to Rs 20 lakh for any information leading to the arrest of each terror suspect.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is cooperating closely with the Jammu and Kashmir Police to gather intelligence and investigate the complex ties between local terrorists and their Pakistani counterparts responsible for the horrific Pahalgam attack. As the investigation continues, the fate of these wanted terrorists remains uncertain, as security forces worldwide remain determined to eliminate the threat of international terrorism and create a safer world for everyone.
- The list of 14 local terrorists, which includes Adil Rehman Dentoo, Asif Ahmed Sheikh, and Ahsan Ahmed Sheikh, among others, has been identified as collaborating with terror outfits in Pakistan.
- Asif Ahmed Sheikh, a district commander of Jaish-e-Mohammed, has been actively involved in terror activities and has ties with politics and crime-and-justice editions of general news.
- Zubair Ahmed Wani, the Chief Operational Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, is a high-profile wanted terrorist who targets security forces and has received training in Pakistan.
- In the wake of the terror attack in Pahalgam, intelligence agencies and security forces are working to dismantle support networks for terrorists, such as those affiliated with terror organizations like JEM and Hizbul, and are offering rewards for any information that leads to their arrest.
