Terrorists Fire At J&K Workers’ Huts, Lob Grenade At Vehicle: Gaganeer Attack Video Emerges – News18

Last Updated:October 23, 2024, 22:35 IST

Seven people including two locals were killed by terrorists on Sunday near the Z-Morh Tunnel in Gaganeer. Witness accounts from survivors and the video footage are being pieced together to understand the sequence of events

A video capturing the Gaganeer terrorists in action has emerged as key evidence in the tunnel attack case. Sources told CNN-News18 that the video shows two terrorists firing indiscriminately at the prefab huts in the APCO Infratech workers’ colony around 8 pm on Sunday. “The CCTV camera at one of the gates has captured the two terrorists first firing at the prefab structures and then targeting a vehicle which drives in through this gate,” a probe team officer told CNN-News18.

A screengrab of the video footage shows one terrorist carrying an assault rifle and a backpack inside the worker colony. A second grab accessed by CNN-News18 shows the terrorist entering what looks like the residential area of the worker mess.

The footage also shows, as per sources, that the terrorists lobbed a grenade at a vehicle that came in around the same time as gunfire. The driver reportedly jumped out to save himself but the vehicle was torched.

Witness accounts from survivors and this video footage are being pieced together to understand the sequence of events.

Survivors have told the police that the terrorists also shot at employees who were moving around the area.

“There was a power cut and a generator set had illuminated only 2-3 prefab structures. The workers inside these huts were fired upon. It appears that the terrorists fired for about 10 minutes and left,” a police official said.

Hunt on for overground workers

Police suspect that the two terrorists were given logistical support to flee from the location after the firing.

“Preliminary assessment seems that a vehicle picked them up from the spot after the firing. CCTV cameras on the roads leading to this area are being scanned to gather evidence in this regard,” a probe officer said.

Police officials suspect that local overground workers (OGWs) carried out a recce of the facility and provided precise information to the terrorists about how many gates, exit routes, and security were present inside the camp. “This was not a fidayeen attack. The terrorists were aware that there were no armed security personnel inside the camp. They also knew precisely where the mess area was and how to escape after the firing,” a senior official on the ground said.

Police officials have also spoken to CRPF personnel on duty who were the first responders after the attack to ascertain the sequence of events. The probe team believes that the terrorists might have had a head start of at least 10 minutes after the killing before police reinforcement arrived.

Technical investigation

A digital investigation is also being carried out by scrutinising mobile towers in the vicinity. The Resistance Front (TRF) has claimed responsibility for the attack and the People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF) has congratulated it for the act.

Security grid officials at the Centre and in the union territory are probing if anyone provided an internet hotspot or any social media app access to unknown people in this area. Past investigations have shown terror groups use encrypted platforms to communicate with their Pakistani handlers using hotspots from locals for internet access.

Seven people including two locals were killed by terrorists on Sunday near the Z-Morh Tunnel in Gaganeer. Security has been upgraded across infrastructure projects in Jammu and Kashmir after the incident.