Srinagar: Adil Ahmed Thoker, one of the terrorists involved in the Pahalgam massacre of April 22 that left 26 people dead, had travelled to Pakistan in 2018 and returned six years later with three to four other terrorists, NDTV reported, citing sources.

A native of Gurre village in Bijbehara, Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, Thoker is believed to be one of the principal architects behind the terror attack at Baisaran in Pahalgam.

In 2018, Thoker left his home and travelled to Pakistan on a student visa.

NDTV reported citing intelligence officials that Thoker had already shown signs of radicalisation before his departure and was in contact with individuals linked to banned terrorist organisations across the border.

Once in Pakistan, Thoker vanished from public view.

He cut off all communication with his family, and intelligence agencies monitoring his digital footprint also lost track of him.

Parallel surveillance on his home did not yield any significant breakthroughs.

According to sources, during this period, Thoker underwent ideological and paramilitary training and came under the influence of handlers associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the report said.

By late 2024, Thoker resurfaced inside India. Sources said he crossed the Line of Control (LoC) in October 2024 through the difficult and remote Poonch-Rajouri sector, a region historically exploited for illegal crossings.

Thoker was accompanied by three to four individuals, including Pakistani national Hashim Musa, alias Suleman, who is also named as a prime accused in the Pahalgam attack.

Intelligence assessments suggest Thoker played a key role in facilitating Musa’s entry into India.

After crossing over, Thoker stayed off grid, using forested and mountainous routes to evade detection.

He was briefly tracked in Kishtwar before reaching Anantnag, possibly through the hilly belts of Tral or other interior tracks previously used by terrorists.

Once in Anantnag, Thoker is believed to have gone underground.

Intelligence sources indicate he sheltered at least one of the Pakistani nationals he had infiltrated with, possibly in forest encampments or isolated village hideouts, NDTV reported.

He remained hidden for several weeks and is suspected of reactivating contact with inactive terrorist cells.

During this time, he was reportedly scouting for a location and opportunity to carry out a high-casualty attack that would draw international attention.

The attack coincided with the re-opening of tourist spots in the region after the annual Amarnath Yatra.

Security agencies believe the revival of tourist activity at Baisaran meadow from March 2025 presented Thoker and his group a clear window to strike.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police have named Thoker and two Pakistani nationals, Hashim Musa alias Suleman and Ali Bhai alias Talha Bhai, as key suspects in the Baisaran massacre.

Sketches have been released and a Rs 20 lakh reward announced for information leading to their capture. Security forces have launched a massive search across Anantnag, Pahalgam, and nearby forests.

On Thursday night, houses belonging to Thoker and another accused, Asif Sheikh of Tral, were destroyed after explosives were found stored inside.

Sheikh, believed to have provided logistical or technical support, is under investigation.

Baisaran massacre

On the afternoon of April 22, around 1:50 PM, attackers led by Thoker emerged from Baisaran's pine forests and opened fire on tourists.

Survivors said the gunmen asked some victims about their religion and demanded they recite Islamic verses. Those who failed or hesitated, they shot them at the head.

Security officials said at least five terrorists split into smaller groups and attacked three zones in the meadow.

Lasting under ten minutes, the assault left 26 dead, including 25 tourists and a local pony operator.

Two security personnel — from the Navy and the Intelligence Bureau — were also killed.

Modi vows to hunt and punish terrorists

Thundering from the land of Bihar, on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned the terrorists responsible for the attack on innocent tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir, and their supporters, with "unimaginable consequences".

Speaking at a rally in Madhubani, Modi declared, "From the soil of Bihar, I want to tell the entire world — India will hunt down every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the earth and ensure they are punished. No act of terror can shake India's spirit. Terrorism will not go unpunished." He also assured that "every effort will be made to deliver justice," noting that the entire nation is mourning the brutal killings.

Pakistan slapped with sweeping countermeasures

Following the attack, PM Modi cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia and held a
Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) at his residence on April 23.

In a hard-hitting response to the ghastly terror attack backed by Pakistan, the Indian government announced a series of strong retaliatory measures: Suspension of the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan, expulsion of Pakistani diplomats and defence personnel from its High Commission, and immediate shutdown of the Integrated Check Post at Attari.

The government revoked Pakistani nationals’ eligibility for travel under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES), declaring all existing visas issued under the scheme invalid.

Additionally, all Pakistani nationals were asked to leave India within 48 hours of the order.