 "What is TRF, LeT terror group offshoot that has taken responsibility for Pahalgam attack?")
At least 26 are dead in South Kashmir’s Pahalgam and several have been injured in a terror attack.
The incident occurred around 2.30 pm on Tuesday (April 22) afternoon when unidentified gunmen opened fire on a tourist group.
An outfit linked to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) known as The Resistance Front has taken responsibility for the attack.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he was shocked beyond belief.
“I’m shocked beyond belief. This attack on our visitors is an abomination. The perpetrators of this attack are animals, inhuman & worthy of contempt. No words of condemnation are enough. I send my sympathies to the families of the deceased. I’ve spoken to my colleague @sakinaitoo & she has moved to the hospital to oversee arrangements for the injured. I’ll be flying back to Srinagar immediately,” Abdullah wrote on X.
But what do we know about this Lashkar offshoot?
Let’s take a closer look:
What do we know?
The Resistance Front (TRF) is an offshoot of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
As per the South Asia Terrorism Portal, the TRF came into being in the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370 and revocation of the special status of J&K in August 2019.
Its leadership included Sajid Jatt, Sajjad Gul and Salim Rehmani – all associated with LeT.
As per Indian Express, the TRF began as a social media based outfit out of Karachi.
It keeps a strong presence on platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, TamTam, Chirpwire.
It uses these platforms for propaganda, radicalisation, and recruitment purposes.
It is a combination of several different terror outfits including the LeT, the Tehreek-e-Millat Islamia and Ghaznavi Hind.
A senior police officer told the newspaper the TRF was branded at a time when Pakistan was looking to avoid inspection under the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
The name was chosen to indicate a public movement rather than a religious group.
“Lashkar and Jaish-e-Mohammad had religious connotations and Pakistan did not want that. They wanted to make Kashmir militancy appear indigenous. Hence, they opted for ‘Resistance’ — that has some currency in global politics — in its name,” the senior official said.
The idea behind the group name was to distance itself from any Islamic connotations.
The group began claiming responsibility for attacks in 2020.
Though different groups including the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and the Hizbul Mujahideen would carry out the attacks, only the TRF would take responsibility.
The TRF recently took credit for the Z-Morh Tunnel attack in Ganderbal on October 20, 2024.
The first indication of the emergence of a new outfit came when the J&K Police busted a unit of over ground workers (OGWs) in Sopore and Kupwara. The police found a cache of arms and ammunition dumped by militants near the Line of Control (LoC) at Keran.
The arrested OGWs told authorities they were “recruiting youth for the new outfit”.
The group also issued threats to media houses in the Valley for “traitorous acts” – after which which several journalists resigned from local publications.
“They came with an active social media presence and were providing an intellectual discourse to the militant movement,” the official added.
‘Detrimental to national security and sovereignty of India’
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) banned TRF, all its forms and front groups in January 2023.
The ministry has declared the TRF as a terrorist group under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
“TRF is recruiting youth through online medium for furtherance of terrorist activities and has been also involved in carrying out propaganda on terror activities, recruitment of terrorists, infiltration of terrorists and smuggling of weapons and narcotics from Pakistan into J&K. TRF is involved in psychological operations on social media platforms for inciting people of J&K to join terrorist outfits against the Indian state,” the notification read.
The MHA notification added that “the activities of TRF are detrimental for the national security and sovereignty of India. A large number of cases have been registered against the members/associates of the TRF relating to planning of killing of security personnel and civilians of J&K, co-coordinating and transporting weapons to support proscribed terrorist organisations…”
The TRF has released a statement following the attack.
“We have repeatedly warned both local and non-locals through verbal communication and official statements, against involvement in illegal projects,” the TRF statement said, as per Livemint.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephone conversation with Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the attack.
The prime minister asked Shah to take all suitable measures and visit the site.
“I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected. Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice…they will not be spared! Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger,” Modi wrote on X.
As per India Today, Shah convened a high-level meeting following the attack.
The Home Secretary, senior officials from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Ministry of Home Affairs. Jammu and Kashmir officials, including the Director General of Police (DGP) attended the meeting virtually.
Shah has now left for Srinagar.
Politicos condemn attack
A number of high-profile politicos have condemned the attack.
“Deeply anguished by the news of terrorist attack in Pahalgam (Jammu & Kashmir). This dastardly attack on innocent civilians is an act of cowardice and highly reprehensible. My thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families,” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh wrote on X.
The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha wrote on X, “Directed the district administration and the health officials to provide immediate medical attention to those admitted at Pahalgam. An injured tourist has been evacuated to GMC Anantnag. I pray for the speedy recovery of all the injured.”
“Condemn the cowardly terror attack in Pahalgam. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims. Pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” S Jaishankar said in a post on X.
Ex- Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and People’s Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti condemned the attack.
“I strongly condemn the cowardly attack on tourists in Pahalgam, which tragically killed one and injured several. Such violence is unacceptable and must be denounced,” Mehbooba wrote on X.
“Historically, Kashmir has welcomed tourists warmly, making this rare incident deeply concerning. A thorough investigation is needed to bring the perpetrators to justice and examine potential security lapses. Ensuring visitor safety is paramount, and steps must be taken to prevent future attacks. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families.”
“The news of the death of tourists and injuries to many in the cowardly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir is extremely condemnable and heartbreaking. I express my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured. The whole country is united against terrorism. Instead of making hollow claims of the situation being normal in Jammu and Kashmir, the government should now take accountability and take concrete steps so that such barbaric incidents do not happen in the future and innocent Indians do not lose their lives like this,” Rahul Gandhi wrote on X.
With inputs from agencies
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