J&K: Houses of two terrorists involved in Pahalgam terror attack brought down in blast

NEW DELHI: Houses of two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists Adil Thokar and Asif Shaikh, involved in the Pahalgam attack, were destroyed in a blast on Thursday night in Anantnag and Awantipora, respectively.
According to officials, security forces were conducting searches inside the two LeT terrorists Adil Hussain Thokar and Asif Sheikh when the explosives already kept inside the houses went off.
The explosives caused destruction of the houses, they added.
Thokar, who legally travelled to Pakistan in 2018 through the Attari-Wagah border, allegedly received terrorist training before covertly returning to Jammu and Kashmir last year. Intelligence sources suggest he served as a guide and logistics coordinator for Pakistani terrorists involved in the recent attack.

The Anantnag Police has announced a reward of Rs 20 lakh for information leading to the arrest of three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists: Adil Hussain Thokar, Ali Bhai, and Hashim Musa. All three are suspected of orchestrating the devastating attack in Baisaran, Pahalgam, on April 22.
Earlier, the security agencies on Wednesday revealed that the three terrorists suspected to have carried out the deadly Pahalgam attack used specific code names, Moosa, Yunus, and Asif, to mask their identities during the operation that killed 26 people, mostly tourists.
In what marks the most devastating terrorist incident since the revocation of Article 370 in 2019, 26 tourists lost their lives and several others were wounded on April 22. The attack unfolded at Baisaran Meadow, a popular tourist destination situated 7 kilometers from Pahalgam resort town.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that 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 assault occurred at around 1.30pm while tourists were enjoying the scenic meadow, known for its snow-capped mountains and pine forests. Despite robust security measures, including multiple checkpoints and armed patrols in the area, the terrorists managed to breach the security cordon and carry out the attack in this otherwise peaceful tourist destination.