Pahalgam attack: sketches, photos of terrorists released

Security agencies on Wednesday released the sketches and photos of three men suspected to be involved in the terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists, near Pahalgam in south Kashmir.The men, all three Pakistanis, are Asif Fauji, Suleman Shah and Abu Talha, officials said. They had code names -- Moosa, Yunus and Asif -- and were involved in terror related incidents in Poonch.The sketches were prepared with the help of survivors, they said. From the sketches they appear to be young and have beards.The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow outfit of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group, claimed responsibility for the attack on Tuesday afternoon.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh  reviewed the current security situation in Kashmir Valley with top officials of the three services. Defence Sources said, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh and other senior officials briefed Mr Singh on the current security situation in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. Top officers have been rushed to the affected areas, and local formations have been asked to be on alert and further intensify the counter terrorist operations. Sources added that more troops have been inducted in the areas near the attack site to carry out search and destroy operations in the valley.