Adil Ahmed Thoker, who traveled to Pakistan on a student visa in 2018, returned after terror training to co-orchestrate the deadly Baisaran attack that left 26 dead.
April 27, 2025: New Delhi:
A chilling investigation into the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack has revealed that Adil Ahmed Thoker, a native of Gurre village in Bijbehara, Anantnag, traveled to Pakistan on a student visa in 2018 and returned years later as a trained terrorist, masterminding one of the deadliest attacks in Kashmir since Pulwama.
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Journey from Student to Terrorist:
In 2018, Thoker left for Pakistan officially on a student visa. However, intelligence agencies later confirmed that he was already radicalized and in touch with handlers linked to banned terror outfits, particularly Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
After arriving in Pakistan, Thoker severed ties with his family and disappeared for almost eight months. Surveillance teams lost track of his digital footprint, while parallel monitoring efforts at his home yielded no results.
Intelligence now indicates that during this period, Thoker underwent ideological indoctrination and paramilitary training under LeT operatives.
Return and Infiltration into India:
In October 2024, Thoker was tracked re-entering India through the Poonch-Rajouri sector—a region notorious for its challenging terrain and history of illegal crossings.
He was accompanied by three to four other infiltrators, including Hashim Musa (alias Suleman), a Pakistani national who is now also a prime suspect in the attack.
Using forest trails and mountainous paths to avoid detection, Thoker made his way into Anantnag, establishing contacts with dormant terror cells and laying low in isolated hideouts.
Planning and Execution of the Baisaran Attack:
Security agencies believe Thoker spent weeks scouting locations and reactivating terror cells. As tourist traffic picked up post-Amarnath Yatra in March 2025, Baisaran meadow became a prime target.
On April 22, at around 1:50 PM, Thoker and his team emerged from dense pine forests around Baisaran and opened fire on tourists.
Witnesses reported that attackers asked individuals to prove their religious identity—and those who failed or hesitated were shot at close range.
- 26 people — 25 tourists and 1 local — were killed.
- Two security personnel, one from the Indian Navy and another from the Intelligence Bureau, also died heroically.
The coordinated attack was carried out by at least five terrorists, who split into smaller groups to maximize casualties.
Aftermath and Crackdown:
- Jammu and Kashmir Police have named Thoker alongside Hashim Musa (Suleman) and Ali Bhai (Talha Bhai) as principal suspects.
- Sketches of the accused have been released and a ₹20 lakh reward has been announced for credible information.
- On Thursday night, security forces demolished Thoker’s house in Bijbehara, discovering hidden explosives during their raid.
Thoker’s movements and planning have become a case study in how terror groups exploit legitimate travel channels — like student visas — to radicalize and train recruits.
Security forces have launched a massive manhunt across Anantnag, Pahalgam, and nearby forest belts to capture the remaining terrorists.
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Pahalgam terror attack, Adil Ahmed Thoker, Kashmir terrorism, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Student visa misuse, Pakistan terror training, Baisaran shooting, Jammu and Kashmir security, Cross-border infiltration, Anti-terror operations India