Kupwara man detained at Srinagar airport over resemblance to Pahalgam attack suspect

Srinagar, Apr 29: Security forces on high alert in the wake of the recent Pahalgam terror attack detained a man at Srinagar International Airport after his facial features reportedly matched those of a suspect in a police-released sketch.

Official sources told Kashmir Dot Com that Mohd Shafi Khan Pathan, son of Datullah Khan and a resident of Mangah, Manigah in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, was intercepted by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel while attempting to board Indigo flight 6E6051 to Chandigarh. He was accompanied by four others and was scheduled to travel at 1125 hours.

During preliminary questioning, the group informed officials that they were working under Deepak Kumar, identified as a Production Manager with a film unit. They claimed they were en route to Chandigarh for the shooting of a film titled Safeed Sager, reportedly based on the Kargil War.

However, CISF officials grew suspicious when Mohd Shafi’s facial features appeared to resemble one of the suspects in the composite sketch released by investigators in connection with the recent deadly attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives.

All five individuals were subsequently handed over to a police Budgam. The officer personally escorted them to Police Post Humhama for further questioning and verification.

There has been no official confirmation yet on whether the detained individual has any direct links to the Pahalgam attack. The investigations is going on.