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The Resistance Front, an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack that has claimed the lives of 26 civilians, including two foreigners, so far.
The attack was orchestrated by a group of terrorists who emerged from the dense forests around the trekking paradise of the Baisaran meadows in the upper reaches of Pahalgam in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Pahalgam terror attack LIVE updates
The terrorists, whose numbers could not be ascertained immediately, took advantage of the non-motorable destination — popular among honeymooners, trekkers and adventure junkies — to target tourists and ensure that any help from authorities would take time to reach them, officials said.
Sketches were released of three terrorists involved in the Pahalgam terror attack, on April 23, 2025
Even though the security agencies did not confirm the veracity of the claim, the outfit alleged that the attack was to retaliate 85,000 domicile certificates issued to non-locals, thus “creating a pathway for demographic change” in the Union Territory. “Violence will be directed toward those attempting to settle illegally,” it said in a statement.
What is TRF?
The Resistance Front or TRF was founded in October 2019, months after Centre bifurcated Jammu and Kashmir, and abrogated Article 370 that gave special status to the erstwhile State. Though it projects itself as an independent militant outfit fighting for “Kashmiri resistance,” the Ministry of Home Affairs said it is a front of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The MHA banned the outfit under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in 2023.
The Ministry said the organisation was recruiting youth through online medium for furtherance of terrorist activities and had been involved in carrying out propaganda on terror activities, recruitment of terrorists, infiltration of terrorists and smuggling of weapons and narcotics from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir.
Sheikh Sajjad Gul, a commander of TRF was also designated as a terrorist under the UAPA.
“A large number of cases have been registered against the members/associates of the TRF relating to planning of killings of security force personnel and innocent civilians of Jammu and Kashmir, co-coordinating and transporting weapons to support proscribed terrorist organisation, etc.,” a ministry notification said while announcing the ban.
Targets
The Resistance Front (TRF) has targeted non-Kashmiris and the religious minorities of Kashmir, including Pandits, earlier. The murder of well-known chemist, Makhan Lal Pandita, and a school principal, Supinder Kaur, in 2021, the killing of civilians working for a private construction firm in Ganderbal in 2024, the 2023 Anantnag encounter, Reasi pilgrims attack of 2024, are among the handiwork of the TRF.
The group killed Kashmiri activist Babar Qadri in 2020, who was known for some strong views on militancy, separatism, and Indian government’s handling of the Kashmir issue.
Trained in Pakistan
Seen as a faceless and tech savvy organisation, the TRF used body cameras like the GoPro to shoot attacks on the CRPF and the Army in Kashmir, post them on their social handles to “motivate” their recruits.
The initial cadre of the TRF comprised locals trained in Pakistan. They travelled on passports and returned via Wagah, according to a police report. Additionally, well-trained young militants are being sent to Kashmir via the LoC.
Security agencies managed to dent the outfit’s ability to strike when they killed its ‘commander’ Abbas Sheikh, a resident of Kulgam, in an encounter in Srinagar in August 2021. In May 2024, Basit Dar an ‘A’ category militant of the TRF and was involved in more than 18 cases was killed in an anti-militancy operation in May 2024.
Published – April 23, 2025 01:09 pm IST
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