Adil Ahmed Thoker, one of the key perpetrators behind the brutal Pahalgam attack on April 22 that left 26 dead, had a sinister journey that began years earlier. In 2018, Thoker departed for Pakistan under the guise of a student visa. Six years later, he resurfaced—bringing with him a small but deadly team of trained terrorists, according to intelligence sources.
Hailing from Gurre village in Bijbehara, Anantnag district, Thoker had shown early signs of radical leanings before leaving India. Investigators reveal he had already established links with members of proscribed terrorist outfits operating out of Pakistan.
Upon reaching Pakistan, Thoker effectively vanished. For nearly eight months, he cut all contact with his family, leaving no trace for Indian intelligence to follow. Surveillance efforts in his home region yielded little; Thoker had dropped off the radar.
Sources now confirm that during this period, Thoker was undergoing rigorous ideological indoctrination and military-style training, eventually coming under the control of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) handlers.
By late 2024, Thoker reemerged—not through official channels, but via a covert crossing over the treacherous Poonch-Rajouri sector of the Line of Control (LoC). Intelligence reports suggest he slipped back into Indian territory in October 2024, navigating dense forests and mountainous terrains historically exploited for illegal infiltration.
Thoker wasn’t alone. He brought with him a small group, including Pakistani national Hashim Musa—also known by his alias 'Suleman'—one of the primary suspects in the Pahalgam massacre. Thoker is now believed to have facilitated Musa’s illegal entry into Jammu and Kashmir.
Post-infiltration, Thoker remained elusive, traveling through Kishtwar and possibly using hidden trails near Tral to reach Anantnag, evading security detection all the while.
Once back in Anantnag, Thoker went underground, reportedly sheltering at least one of the Pakistani terrorists he had escorted. Intelligence sources indicate that he rekindled contacts with dormant terror networks, while also scouting locations for a devastating strike.
This covert buildup coincided with the reopening of tourist areas in Kashmir post-Amarnath Yatra. Baisaran meadow, once restricted, had begun welcoming visitors by March 2025—a development that provided Thoker and his team a ripe opportunity.
At approximately 1:50 PM on April 22, Thoker and his accomplices emerged from the thick pine forests surrounding Baisaran. Armed with automatic rifles, they moved swiftly among unsuspecting tourists.
Eyewitnesses recount how the attackers interrogated victims about their religion, even demanding the recitation of Islamic verses. Hesitation or failure often resulted in immediate execution, many with fatal headshots.
Security agencies report that at least five terrorists participated, strategically splitting into smaller units to maximize casualties across three zones of the meadow. In less than ten minutes, 25 tourists and one local pony operator lay dead. Two security personnel—a Navy officer and an Intelligence Bureau operative—also perished heroically trying to counter the attack.
Thoker has been officially named by the Jammu and Kashmir Police as one of the masterminds behind the Baisaran bloodshed. Alongside him, two Pakistani nationals—Hashim Musa alias Suleman and Ali Bhai alias Talha Bhai—have also been identified.
Police have circulated sketches of the suspects and announced a bounty of ₹20 lakh for any information leading to their capture. A massive manhunt spanning Anantnag, Pahalgam, and surrounding forests is underway.
On Thursday night, security forces demolished the homes of Thoker and another accused, Asif Sheikh from Tral, after finding explosives stashed within. It is suspected these were either meant for future attacks or as defensive booby traps. Investigations into Sheikh’s role continue, with indications he may have provided logistical support to the terror module.
Source: News Agencies