According to officials, the attackers include two Pakistani nationals and one local militant affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba outfit. They have been identified as Adil Hussain Thokar from Anantnag district, and Ali Bahi alias Talha Bahi, and Hashim Musa alias Suleman, both from Pakistan.
Meanwhile, a major crackdown has been launched by the J&K Police and over 1,500 people have been detained across various districts for questioning. Those taken into custody include suspected overground workers and individuals with prior records linked to militant activities.
“The detentions have been made from all districts of Kashmir, with a special focus on South Kashmir to gather leads about the attackers,” said police sources.
A massive manhunt also continued on Thursday in the forests around Pahalgam. The dense forested area is connected to the Kokernag forest and extends into the Kishtwar and Doda belts of the Jammu region—zones known for a significant militant presence.
“A large-scale search operation is underway, and security forces have expanded the sweep area. All efforts are being made to track down the attackers,” a senior official in South Kashmir confirmed.
