New Delhi, November 13, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
As Indian security agencies intensify their search for Mohammad Lateef Bhat, the suspected mastermind behind the Kulgam attack that injured three CRPF personnel, officials suspect the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) is using a newly floated outfit to divert attention from him.
The outfit, named Pasdaran-e-Hurriyat Kashmir (PeHK), has surfaced through social media posts attributed to Mohammad Omar Azzam, who describes himself as its spokesperson. PeHK claimed responsibility for the Kulgam attack in one such post. Intelligence officials suspect the outfit is another LeT proxy, created to distract security agencies from their pursuit of Bhat.
An Intelligence Bureau official said LeT had previously used groups such as The Resistance Front (TRF) and Kashmir Revolutionary Army (KRA) to project an indigenous identity. The official described Bhat as a key LeT operative who carries out small-scale attacks before going underground for extended periods.
After the Kulgam attack, security agencies issued posters seeking information about Bhat and his alleged accomplices Bilal Ahmad Mir, Mohammad Umar Mir and Abid Qayoom. Officials believe Bhat, a native of Kulgam in south Kashmir, remains in Jammu and Kashmir, while his associates are suspected to be hiding in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The official said Bhat’s arrest or elimination would deal a significant blow to LeT operations in the region. He also alleged that Bhat was responsible for the fatal shooting of Jammu and Kashmir Head Constable Aashiq Hussain in Anantnag.
The PeHK statement also invoked the Hindutva issue and warned of attacks targeting Hindus and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), while speaking of ending Hindu dominance. Officials believe such messaging is intended to divert the attention of security forces and create an opportunity for Bhat to evade the ongoing search.
Security forces had cordoned off the Kulgam attack site immediately after the incident, preventing the attackers from advancing further or taking cover, officials said. They added that more proxy outfits and threatening social media posts could emerge, potentially targeting security personnel, the RSS, migrant workers and Kashmiri Pandits.
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