New Delhi, November 12, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Security agencies are pursuing Mohammad Lateef Bhat in connection with the Kulgam attack in which three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were injured. The emergence of the Kashmir Revolutionary Army (KRA), a relatively new outfit suspected of being a proxy of Lashkar-e-Tayiba (LeT), has added another dimension to the investigation.
Bhat, who has been on the radar of security agencies for some time, is believed to be associated with the KRA. According to intelligence inputs cited by officials, the outfit is suspected to be an offshoot of The Resistance Front (TRF), which was created after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 to give the LeT an indigenous appearance.
The TRF was first banned by India. Following the Pahalgam attack, the United States also designated it as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation in July 2025. An official said the outfit came under intense pressure after the bans. The official added that the group initially claiming responsibility for the Pahalgam attack quickly withdrew its statement amid pressure from India and the international community.
With the TRF facing increased scrutiny, the Lashkar is suspected of having created the KRA as another proxy to evade international sanctions and security agency crackdowns. An Intelligence Bureau official said the KRA and TRF shared handlers, ground operatives and recruitment networks.
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“The objective is to evade international sanctions and avoid attracting the attention of Indian security agencies. However, the emergence of such groups also suggests that these outfits are becoming fragmented and lack unity,” the official said.
According to officials, the use of multiple proxy organisations creates additional layers for investigators to navigate, allowing the parent organisation more time to cover its tracks and plan further attacks. The strategy is also believed to shield the Lashkar leadership from direct scrutiny.
Officials say Bhat follows a pattern of carrying out swift attacks before blending into the local population. He reportedly operates with no more than two or three associates and carries an AK-47 rifle.
Bhat is also suspected of involvement in the fatal shooting of Jammu and Kashmir Head Constable Aashiq Hussain in Anantnag in July this year. He was allegedly involved in the July 31 targeted killing of two migrant workers from Chhattisgarh, Bhupendra and Deepak, in Kulgam.
Investigators say the latest Kulgam attack followed a similar pattern. Officials believe the attacks bear the signature of the TRF, although the outfit has refrained from openly claiming responsibility. Instead, lesser-known group names such as the KRA have surfaced, potentially complicating efforts to identify those behind the strikes.
An official said security agencies could see more such proxy formations linked to the Lashkar and Jaish-e-Mohammad in the future.
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