• Searches continued for 3rd day in dense forests
• Night vision drones, devices to track suspects in forests areas
Srinagar, Oct 22: Jammu and Kashmir Police have detained at least 42 suspects for questioning regarding the deadly terrorist attack at Gagangir on Sunday, which resulted in the deaths of seven civilians and injuries to five others.
A senior police officer confirmed to Rising Kashmir that the suspects are being questioned as part of the ongoing investigation into the attack. “These suspects have been detained for questioning post this incident. Investigation of this case is ongoing, and detentions and questioning are a routine process during any investigation,” the officer stated.
The police are currently tracking possible routes used by the terrorists and investigating who may have provided them with accommodation. Some suspects living in adjacent areas are also being questioned, although some have since been released.
“To identify those responsible for this act of terrorism, we are scrutinizing individuals in the area. As more evidence emerges, we will formally detain those whose involvement becomes clear,” the officer added.
Officials revealed that the terrorists are trained in jungle warfare, armed with US-made M4 carbines, and capable of hiding in natural caves for days. They are believed to be active in the region, and investigations into the involvement of additional individuals in the deadly attack are underway.
“Both terrorists managed to flee the area, taking advantage of the darkness. We are reviewing CCTV footage, which suggests that two individuals were involved,” the officer noted.
In the meantime, a team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), led by SSP Sandeep Choudhary, along with forensic experts, visited the attack site for further investigation.
A massive search operation is currently underway for two or three suspected foreign terrorists associated with The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group of Lashkar-e-Taiba. Multiple teams from the police, Army, and CRPF have been combing the dense forest area for a third consecutive day.
“Additional forces have been deployed, and we are hopeful of eliminating these terrorists involved in this attack. Night vision drones and helicopters are being utilized to track the movement of suspects in the area,” the officer stated.
