How Adil Thoker went from being J&K teacher to Pahalgam terror attack architect

Who is Adil Hussain Thoker?

The mastermind of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack once worked as a teacher, according to several media reports.

He was reportedly one of the six gunmen that carried out the attack which left 26 dead.

The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the terror attack.

But who is he? How did he go from a teacher to becoming the architect of the Pahalgam terror attack?

Let’s take a closer look:

Who is Thoker?

As per The Print, Thoker hails from Anantnag’s Guri village.

His father is one Wali Mohammad Thoker, as per News18.

His family owns land in the area. Thoker is one of three siblings.

“He has two brothers. His family also owns a good chunk of land here,” a source told the outlet.

Thoker became radicalised during his college years.

Thoker began working as a teacher after completing his post-graduation.

He was also seen attending religious gatherings and funerals of militants killed by security forces.

“This began way before he left for Pakistan. At that time no one suspected anything since a lot of people would attend funerals of militants. Suspicion arose when he disappeared in 2018,” a second source said.

Thoker is thought to have visited Pakistan in 2018.

As per News18, Thoker is believed to have travelled to Pakistan via Wagah on a Valid Travel Document (VTD).

Editor’s Picks

1

‘They are terrorists not militants’: Has the Western media whitewashed the Pahalgam attack? 2

Who is the lone foreigner killed in Pahalgam terror attack?

He is said to have disappeared shortly afterwards.

Later, it began being reported that Thoker had joined the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) – the Pakistan-based terror outfit.

“Intelligence suggests he was in touch with terror outfits already and went to Pakistan to receive training. He and the other terrorists entered Kashmir late last year, together. We suspect they were hiding in various areas including Poonch-Rajouri, Doda Kishtwar, among others,” a third source told The Print.

As per NDTV, Thoker cut off all contact with his family.

He remained out of sight for the next eight months.

Intelligence agencies tracking his digital footprint could not find him.

A surveillance operation on his home in Anantnag’s Bijbehara bore no fruits either.

Sources told the outlet Thoker was being given ideological and paramilitary training during this period.

As per The Times of India, Thoker is also known as Adil Guri.

Mastermind of Pahalgam attack

As per News18, Thoker is thought to have planned the attack alongside the LeT’s  Saifullah Kasuri and Abu Musa.

Thoker was among the terrorists who carried out the Pahalgam attack.

Eyewitnesses said the terrorists went into the Pir Panjal forest afterwards.

As per The Print, local intelligence had indicated Thoker was in Pahalgam just days before the attack.

Thoker was seen in Rajouri’s Poonch earlier this year alongside terrorists as well as last year.

As per NDTV, the area is known for its difficult terrain including steep hills and dense forests.

Thoker at the time was accompanied by three of four people – including Hashim Musa (alias Suleman), who is a prime accused in the Pahalgam attack.

Thoker is thought to have been key to allowing Musa to enter India.

Officials say Thoker crossed back into India last year via the Line of Control.

He was thought to be active in Jammu’s Doda and Kishtwar regions.

As per NDTV, he is thought to have avoided security forces by using forested and mountainous routes.

Sources told the outlet Thoker was seen briefly in in Kishtwar before reaching Anantnag.

He is thought to have traversed the hilly belts of Tral or via tracks terrorists used before.

Thoker is believed to have gone to ground in Anantnag.

Intelligence said he gave refuge to at least one of the Pakistani nationals with him – either in forest encampments or hideouts in the village.

Thoker at this time is thought to have gotten in touch with sleeper cells.

Officials think Thoker was on the lookout for a chance to launch a high-profile attack.

At this time, India was also reopening tourist spots in the region after the Amarnath Yatra including Baisaran meadow.

The Jammu and Kashmir police identified Thoker as one of the gunmen alongside Musa and Ali Bhai aka Talha Bhai, as per NDTV.

The men are thought to have used the aliases of Moosa, Yunus and Asif to hide their identities.

A source told The Times of India that Thoker is thought to have used his knowledge of the terrain in Baisaran to guide the terrorists.

Thoker is thought to helped them traverse the area, provide shelter for them, scout the area,  plan the attack and their escape route.

A massive manhunt for the gunmen is on.

According to News18, the houses of Thoker and Sheikh have been demolished.

Explosives were supposedly found on the premises during the search operation, prompting the security forces to evacuate the occupants of the houses as well as neighbours to safety before they went off.

As per The Times of India, the police in Anantnag have announced a Rs 20 lakh reward for information leading to Thoker’s capture.

As per Deccan Chronicle, Thoker was also a close aide of terrorist commander Uzair Khan, who has joined the TRF under the alias ‘Usman Ghazi.’

Khan was killed in September 2023 in one of Jammu and Kashmir’s longest anti-terror ops, as per Deccan Chronicle.

India has taken a slew of steps against Pakistan including downgrading diplomatic ties, revoking of all visas issued to Pakistani nationals, suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, expelling Pakistan’s military attaches, suspension of the over six-decade-old Indus Water Treaty and immediate shutting down of the Attari land-transit post in view of the cross-border links to the Pahalgam terror attack.

With inputs from agencies