Pakistan-made RPG shells found near Gulmarg attack site: Report

Srinagar, Nov 02: Intelligence agencies from Centre have found unexploded RPG (Rocket-Propelled Grenade) shells from the spot where militants attacked an army convoy in the Butapathri area of Gulmarg killing four persons including two soldiers.

The agencies have said that the discovered shells are made in Pakistan.

Last Thursday evening, militants targeted an Army vehicle near the Nagin post at Butapathri, around seven kilometres from Gulmarg town. Butapathri is close to the LoC, and civilian movement in the area is restricted. Two Army soldiers and two civilian porters working with the Army were killed in the attack, and three soldiers were injured.

According to sources, multiple central agencies, including the National Investigation Agency, visited the spot after the attack and found that the militants had tried to use RPGs that were made in Pakistan but had misfired, reported The Indian Express.

“After visiting the spot, they (the agencies) found that the militants fired sophisticated weapons as well as RPGs that had misfired,” a source told IE.

Following the attack, a number of local residents were questioned by central agencies and the local police.

“Prima facie, it appears that they (the militants) were aware about the movement of the Army vehicle and had also conducted recce with the help of a local person before carrying out the attack,” the source said.

A day after the attack, the Defence spokesperson in Srinagar said it was carried out by “Pakistani terrorists, with a view to disrupt peace and stability in Kashmir”.

The attack came just days after seven employees of a construction company involved in building a tunnel in J&K’s Ganderbal district were killed on October 20 when gunmen opened fire indiscriminately at a camp set up for the employees.

Following the Gulmarg attack, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed concern about the spate of attacks, saying in a post on X: “…This recent spate of attacks in Kashmir is a matter of serious concern. I condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms and send my condolences to the loved ones of the people, who lost their lives.”

J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who spoke to top officers in the Army, the J&K Police, and the UT administration after the attack, called for a “swift and befitting reply to neutralise terrorists”.