Security agencies have identified Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Latif Bhat and his associate Waris Shah as the prime suspects behind the recent targeted terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, including the killing of two migrant workers in Kulgam.
Officials believe the duo played a key role in orchestrating the attacks, with Shah allegedly providing logistical support and conducting reconnaissance before the assault.
The latest attack occurred on Friday evening when terrorists opened fire on migrant labourers at a brick kiln in Kulgam district. Deepak, a worker from Chhattisgarh, died at the scene, while another labourer, Bhupender, later succumbed to his injuries during treatment. The incident has intensified security concerns as it marks the second targeted terror attack in the Kashmir Valley within 10 days.
Just a week earlier, Head Constable Aashiq Hussain Qureshi was shot dead in Anantnag while deployed on Amarnath Yatra security duty. Following that attack, security forces launched extensive search operations across south Kashmir, but the latest killings have highlighted the continuing threat posed by militant groups.
According to preliminary investigations, both attacks were carried out using a small-calibre weapon, likely a pistol, instead of assault rifles. Investigators say the modus operandi closely matches that of The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba known for quick, targeted shootings carried out by so-called “hybrid terrorists” or locally recruited overground workers who blend back into civilian areas after executing attacks.
Security officials believe the objective of these attacks is to create fear, disrupt the return to normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir, and target migrant workers and security personnel. Multiple intelligence and security agencies are coordinating efforts to trace the attackers and dismantle the network supporting such operations.
Latif Bhat came into focus after escaping the high-profile Shopian encounter, during which top Lashkar commander Zakir Ganai was killed by security forces. Investigators suspect Bhat has since rebuilt local sleeper cells and is directing targeted attacks under instructions from handlers based across the border.
Security agencies have intensified surveillance and counter-terror operations across south Kashmir as efforts continue to track down Bhat, Shah and other members of the suspected terror network.
