NEW DELHI: A thorough analysis of the Pahalgam attack conducted by the Indian National Investigation Agency (NIA) and a forensic team has revealed that fighters have used US-made M4 carbine rifles and AK-47 assault rifles during their attack on civilians, the Indian media reported.
The investigative team have also recovered at least 60 to 70 used cartridges from the spot. An official privy to the development told ETV Bharat on Friday that the anti-terror agency is still collecting evidence to file a chargesheet on fast-track basis. The official said that the agency will submit its findings and file the chargesheet at the earliest. “Although it takes a maximum of 90-days to file a chargesheet, the agency, in this case, is likely to file the chargesheet in 70-days,” the official said.
Around 70 used cartridges were recovered from the spot substantiating the fact that the fighters used sophisticated weapons like the US-made M4 carbine rifles and AK-47 assault rifles for the carnage. “In these assault rifles, as used by the fighters, more gadgets can be added to effectively hit targets,” another senior official from the security establishment said.
The M4 carbine is a 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifle developed in the United States during the 1980s. It is a shortened version of the M16A2 assault rifle. It is believed that most of the latest and sophisticated weapons including the M4 carbine have been brought from Afghanistan. In fact, the M4 carbine was used in an attack near the under-construction Z-Morh tunnel on the Srinagar-Sonamarg highway last year. Seven men including six workers and a doctor were killed in the Z Morh tunnel attack.
The assault rifles have several attachments, including ballistic calculators, image-rangefinders, night vision devices, and gun-mounted cameras. It has been found that M4 carbine, equipped with thermal rifle scopes featuring high-resolution video, WiFi capabilities, GPS, image stabilisation, and rangefinders.
Sources said that United States Armed Forces completed their withdrawal from Afghanistan on August 30, 2021. And since then, there has been a rise in the use of M4 carbines in the militant attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
Investigation further revealed that the fighters while continuing their shooting spree, used GoPro cameras, mounted on their caps, and recorded the attack. It’s a method similar to some previous attacks conducted by People’s Anti-Fascist Front and Kashmir Tigers.
Investigation conducted so far into the Pahalgam massacre has found that the Over Ground Workers (OGW) associated with several terrorist organisations played a major role in it.
For the last 10-12 days, a massive search operation is going on in Jammu & Kashmir following inputs that the group of fighters responsible for the Rajouri-Poonch convoy attacks are linked with the Pahalgam incident. The NIA, so far, identified nearly 20-25 OGWs suspected of having extended support in the attack. “Several of such overground workers have already been apprehended. Some others have been put under close surveillance by security and intelligence agencies,” the official said.
Investigators have also found evidence regarding the use of three satellite phones in the area during and after the attack. The security agencies are also searching the residences linked to members and sympathisers of proscribed outfits in other districts like Kupwara, Handwara, Anantnag, Tral, Pulwama, Sopore, Baramulla, and Bandipora.
“Around 2,500 individuals have been interrogated so far. The agency is currently interrogating around 200 persons,” the official added.
Investigation so far has revealed that the attackers arrived in Pahalgam at least a week before April 22. The attackers, as per the investigation, carried out detailed reconnaissance of at least three potential targets including Baisaran Valley, Aru Valley, and Betaab Valley. However, due to robust security deployments, the fighters cancelled their plan to attack other locations. Investigation suggests that the fighters had been in the Baisaran meadows two days prior to the attack. “This detail emerged during the interrogation of an arrested Over Ground Worker (OGW) associated with the incident,” the official said.