On the night of 24th April, the homes of two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, Adil Thokar and Asif Shaikh, involved in the recent Pahalgam attack, were destroyed by a blast in Anantnag and Awantipora, respectively. Officials reported that the explosion occurred as security forces were conducting searches of the terrorists’ properties, triggering explosives hidden inside their houses.

Thokar, who traveled legally to Pakistan in 2018 via the Attari-Wagah border, allegedly received terrorist training before secretly returning to Jammu and Kashmir last year. Intelligence sources suggest that he played a role as a guide and logistics coordinator for the Pakistani terrorists involved in the deadly attack.

In response to the attack, the Anantnag Police have announced a reward of Rs 20 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Thokar, along with two other LeT terrorists, Ali Bhai and Hashim Musa. All three are suspected of being involved in planning the Pahalgam attack that took place on April 22.

Security agencies revealed on Wednesday that the terrorists used code names  Moosa, Yunus, and Asif during the operation that resulted in the deaths of 26 people, mostly tourists. The attack at Baisaran Meadow, a popular tourist spot located 7 kilometers from Pahalgam, marked one of the most devastating terrorist incidents since the revocation of Article 370 in 2019.

Eyewitness accounts describe how six foreign terrorists, disguised in Army uniforms, targeted victims based on their religious identity. The assailants reportedly forced individuals to reveal their names and recite Islamic verses before executing them at close range. The attack occurred around 1:30 pm while tourists were enjoying the picturesque landscape, despite the robust security measures in place, including multiple checkpoints and armed patrols in the area. The terrorists, however, managed to breach the security cordon and carry out their assault.