Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Umer Harris, known by the alias ‘Khargosh’, is believed to be in Saudi Arabia, having reportedly fled India using a forged passport. Officials stated that Harris used the assumed identity of Sajjad, claiming to be a resident of Rajasthan, to facilitate his escape.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the Srinagar Police, leading the investigation into an inter-state LeT terror module, has shared pertinent details with central intelligence agencies. This development has raised concerns regarding potential systemic vulnerabilities that could be exploited for such activities.
The case, initially registered by the Jammu and Kashmir Police earlier this month, is anticipated to be transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Nevertheless, information has been disseminated to relevant state police forces to enable prompt intervention and address identified security gaps.
Contrary to earlier reports suggesting Harris originated from Karachi, investigations now indicate he is from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. He reportedly joined the LeT to evade prosecution for several pending arson cases in Karachi and was subsequently infiltrated into Jammu and Kashmir by the militant group in 2012. The alias ‘Khargosh’ was earned due to his perceived ability to move rapidly and evade security measures.
According to findings from ongoing investigations and interrogations of arrested individuals, Harris infiltrated the Kashmir Valley from the north and resided in various locations across Bandipora and Srinagar. He reportedly married the daughter of an LeT Over Ground Worker (OGW). The marriage ceremony was allegedly conducted in Jaipur under his assumed name, Sajjad, with the marriage documents subsequently used to support his application for an Indian passport. This suggests a significant lapse in the passport verification system.
The unravelling of this inter-state terror network by the Srinagar Police has brought to light several critical loopholes in the system. Questions are being raised about how a passport was issued by authorities in Rajasthan, despite the established police verification protocols. The LeT terrorist is believed to have first fled to Indonesia, from where he is thought to have utilized another forged travel document to reach Saudi Arabia sometime in late 2024 or early 2025, according to officials.
Efforts are reportedly underway through diplomatic channels to secure his return to India and to seek his deportation from the Gulf nation. These revelations emerged following the Srinagar Police’s success in dismantling a far-reaching inter-state LeT module, leading to the arrest of five individuals. Among those apprehended was a Pakistani militant, Abdullah alias Abu Hureira, who had been evading authorities for approximately 16 years and had managed to establish operational bases outside the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The arrest of Abdullah, alongside another Pakistani national identified as Usman alias Khubaib, marked another significant achievement for the Srinagar Police. This operation follows approximately six months after the dismantling of a distinct “white-collar” terror cell that was reportedly centred at Al Falah University in Faridabad. During his interrogation, Abdullah provided crucial information regarding his and Harris’ movements across various Indian states, including Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab. This information included details about the marriage ceremony, following which the bride’s father was detained, as he was reportedly aware of the Pakistani militant’s true identity.
The operation in Srinagar, which commenced on March 31, was closely monitored by Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, who reportedly stayed in the city during that period. The investigation has shed light on the funding and financial mechanisms employed by the LeT. The militants extensively used forged documents and assumed identities to establish a network that extended beyond Jammu and Kashmir into several other states. Among the five arrested individuals were three residents of Srinagar: Mohammad Naqeeb Bhat, Adil Rashid Bha, and Ghulam Mohammad Mir alias Mama, who are accused of providing logistical support, shelter, and sustenance to the militants.
The sophisticated network began to unravel on March 31 when Naqeeb Bhat, one of the three Srinagar residents, was apprehended in the Pandach area. He was found in possession of a pistol and other incriminating materials. During his subsequent interrogation, Bhat revealed his involvement with the LeT and indicated that he procured arms and ammunition from an associate, Adil Rashid of Zakoora, and also provided support to foreign militants. Based on disclosures made by the arrested individuals, police subsequently apprehended Mir and Rashid Bhat, both identified as active associates of the LeT in Srinagar. Investigations also led to the busting of various militant hideouts located in forested regions in and around Srinagar.
The two Pakistani militants, categorized as ‘A+’ grade, reportedly infiltrated India approximately 16 years ago and remained active across multiple districts of the Kashmir Valley. They are alleged to have commanded around 40 foreign militants over the years, the majority of whom have reportedly been neutralised. The dismantling of this inter-state LeT module occurred nearly six months after the exposé of the ‘Al Falah module’ in November 2025. A Srinagar police investigation at that time uncovered a network comprising highly educated professionals, predominantly doctors, who had allegedly been radicalised to engage in militant activities. One of the accused in that case was Dr. Umer-un Nabi of Al Falah University, who was reportedly driving an explosives-laden vehicle that detonated outside the Red Fort on November 10, resulting in multiple fatalities. Dr. Nabi had reportedly made unsuccessful attempts to join militant groups in 2016 and 2018, according to officials.
The Chenab Times News Desk