Srinagar/New Delhi, 24 October 2024: A CCTV image of a suspected militant allegedly involved in the Gagangir attack in Jammu and Kashmir has surfaced, though investigators have yet to confirm if the individual captured in the footage was responsible for the October 20 assault that left seven people dead.
Official sources reported that the image shows militants entering a prefabricated hut, believed to be at the Gagangir tunnel construction site, where six non-local laborers were killed in the terror attack.
Security officials are still working to verify the authenticity of the CCTV footage. “We are examining the image on various counts,” an official source noted. One discrepancy is the date stamp in the top right corner of the screen grab, which reads ‘January 27.’ Sources suggested this could be due to a settings or technical issue.
Moreover, the assailant seen in the footage carried an AK rifle with a blue marking on the muzzle—an unusual feature.
Similar rifles have reportedly been used in past attacks on security forces in the Pir Panchal region, roughly 200 kilometers from Gagangir.
While the militant in the footage was not covering his face, survivors of the attack claimed the assailants had their faces concealed, adding to the uncertainty about the individual’s involvement.
“It is too early to draw any conclusions from the evidence we have,” a senior police official said. “Premature comments could jeopardize the investigation.”
Authorities are continuing their inquiry and analyzing all available leads to determine the suspect’s role in the deadly attack.
