India's central counter-terrorism law enforcement agency - NIA, launched an investigation into the killing of the alleged mastermind of the Pahalgam terror attack and his two allies in an encounter with security forces, the officials said on Tuesday.
The National Investigation Agency team arrived at the Police Control Room (PCR) early Tuesday for the identification of the bodies of the three terrorists. NIA team is taking witnesses in batches of two to three people "for ensuring a cent per cent confirmation that the slain terrorists include Sulieman Shah", officials said.
In a major breakthrough, the Indian Army's elite para commandos on Monday killed Sulieman alias Asif, the alleged mastermind of the April 22 attack, along with two of his associates, in an encounter at Mulnar in the Harwan area near Dachigam National Park.
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A technical signal indicating the use of a satellite phone by the Pahalgam attack perpetrators prompted the security forces to launch a surprise operation, codenamed 'Operation Mahadev'. Jibran, who was allegedly involved in the Sonamarg Tunnel attack last year, and Hamza Afghani have been identified as the other terrorists killed in the action.
In yesterday's encounter, two AK rifles, an M4 carbine rifle, and additional ammunition were seized. According to officials, the operation is still going on because intelligence reports have indicated that there may be another terrorist organisation operating nearby.
As many as 26 people, mostly tourists, were shot dead by terrorists at Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam, after which the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 against at least nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Jibran was allegedly involved in the terror strike at the Sonamarg tunnel project at Gagangir in October last year, in which seven people, including a doctor, were killed.
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