Srinagar, Apr 25: Authorities on Friday that the houses of two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, including the primary suspect in the recent Pahalgam terror attack, were destroyed overnight in separate explosions believed to have been triggered by explosives stored within.
Officials said the incidents occurred during the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, security forces conducted searches at the homes of Aadil Hussain Thokar in Guree village, Bijbehara, and Asif Sheikh in Tral, both located in south Kashmir.
A senior police officer said that during the search operations, explosives were reportedly discovered at both locations, leading security forces to evacuate the occupants of the targeted houses and neighboring residents as a precautionary measure.
“The subsequent explosions caused significant damage to both properties, resulting in their complete destruction, he said.
Thokar, a resident of Anantnag district in south Kashmir, is identified as a key perpetrator in Tuesday’s Pahalgam terror attack. Sheikh, who resides in Tral in Pulwama district, is suspected of involvement in the planning of the attack.
Family members of both Thokar and Sheikh have claimed they are unaware of their current whereabouts.
Deadliest Pahalgam attack on Tuesday afternoon resulted in the deaths of twenty-six individuals, predominantly tourists, and left several others injured when terrorists fired upon a meadow near the popular tourist destination in Anantnag district.
Thokar has been declared the most wanted, and the Anantnag Police have offered a reward of Rs 20 lakh for any specific information leading to his arrest. Two Pakistani nationals were also declared most wanted in the case.
Adil had illegally travelled to Pakistan in 2018, where he reportedly received terror training before returning to Jammu and Kashmir last year.
