Evidence recovered from three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, who were killed in 'Operation Mahadev' on July 28, has definitively established their Pakistani nationality and their role in the April 22 massacre in Pahalgam. Post-encounter evidence, recently released by security agencies, includes Pakistani voter ID cards, Karachi-manufactured chocolates, and a micro-SD chip with biometric records.
The three terrorists were identified as Suleman Shah, the alleged mastermind and lead shooter of the Pahalgam attack, Abu Hamza 'Afghani,' the second gunman; and Yasir, alias Jibran, the third shooter. They were eliminated in the Dachigam area of Srinagar, nearly three months after the attack that left 26 civilians dead in the picturesque Baisaran Valley.
Voter IDs and Biometric Data Cement Pakistani Citizenship
On their bodies was important proof of their Pakistani ancestry. From the remains of Suleman Shah and Abu Hamza, two laminated voter ID slips from the Pakistani Election Commission were found. These cards' serial numbers were compared to the electoral rolls in Gujranwala (NA-79) and Lahore (NA-125).
In a significant technological breakthrough, a micro-SD card taken from a damaged satellite phone contained biometric data for each of the three men from Pakistan's National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). This data included their fingerprints, facial templates, and family tree records. The registered addresses found in the data trace back to Changa Manga (Kasur District) and Koiyan village near Rawalakot, in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Further reinforcing their Pakistani connections, wrappers from 'Candyland' and 'Chocomax' chocolates, both brands produced in Karachi, were discovered among their belongings.
Ballistic and Forensic Evidence Links Terrorists to Pahalgam Attack
Forensic and ballistic analysis has definitively linked the trio to the Baisaran Valley attack. Analysis of the 7.62x39 mm shell casings found at the attack site revealed striation marks that perfectly matched the three AK-103 rifles recovered from the terrorists. This confirms that these were the weapons used in the attack on April 22.
Additionally, a torn shirt found in Pahalgam had blood on it from which mitochondrial profiles were extracted. A direct genetic connection to the crime scene was established when it was discovered that these profiles matched the DNA of the three bodies found in Dachigam.
Infiltration Timeline Traced by Intelligence
The terrorists' movements have been successfully reconstructed by intelligence services. According to an intercepted radio check-in from the Pakistani side, the three allegedly crossed the Line of Control (LoC) close to the Gurez sector in May 2022.
Their movements leading up to the attack were also traced. On April 21, the terrorists moved into a seasonal hut (known as a 'dhok' in local terminology) at Hill Park, located just 2 kilometers from Baisaran. This was corroborated by the confessions of two local Kashmiris, Parvaiz and Bashir Ahmad, who admitted to sheltering the men overnight and providing them with cooked meals.
The terrorists walked to the Baisaran meadow on April 22 and carried out the attack at 2:30 pm before escaping into Dachigam's thick forests. Suleman Shah's Garmin watch's GPS coordinates, which matched the precise firing positions that witnesses at the scene reported, provided additional confirmation of the events.
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