In the aftermath of the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that claimed 26 lives, the Ganderbal Police have taken a pony ride operator into custody following a viral social media video. The video features a tourist woman alleging that a local man questioned her about her religion, while identifying him through a photograph.
The accused, identified as Aiyaz Ahmad Jungal son of Gh Nabi Jungal and a resident of Gohipora Raizan in Ganderbal works as a pony service provider at Thajwas Glacier in Sonamarg. Authorities confirmed that he is currently under sustained interrogation and legal proceedings are being initiated accordingly.
Police are investigating potential links between the detained individual and the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
The woman in the viral video, Ekta Tiwari from Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, claims she interacted with two men matching the sketches of the suspected attackers. She said the incident occurred during a mule ride on April 20 in Baisaran Valley, where one of the men asked her about her name and religion.
Displaying a photograph of a man in a maroon jacket and pyjamas, Tiwari asserted he was among those released in police sketches. She added that her fellow tourists were too frightened to speak, though WhatsApp chat screenshots indicated that others in her group also recognised the individuals from the sketches.
Tiwari further alleged that the men asked her if she had ever visited religious sites like Ajmer Dargah or Amarnath. When she mentioned plans to join the Amarnath Yatra, the men allegedly offered to facilitate her registration-free entry, promising that their contact would receive her on arrival.
Her husband, Prashant Gautam, noted that they were part of a 20-member group on a pilgrimage tour which began with Vaishno Devi.
Tiwari recounted that one of the men questioned her preferences between Hinduism and Islam, and inquired if she had read the Quran. She admitted she hadn’t due to not knowing Urdu, to which he replied the Quran was available in Hindi as well. She said she became alarmed during this exchange.
Later, she claimed to overhear the same individual saying over a phone call, “Plan A brake fail, Plan B 35 guns sent and kept on the grass in the valley.” Upon noticing her listening, he allegedly switched to another language.
She described the man as sounding like a Pakistani national who had been living in Kashmir for around seven years, claiming to teach the Quran locally.
When asked why she didn’t report the conversation at a local checkpoint, Tiwari said there were no active security posts or tourist help booths along their route. She added that a checkpoint 7–8 km before Pahalgam was unmanned upon their return.
Tiwari concluded that she was “200% sure” about the identity of the suspects, stating the man’s religious inquiries and suspicious conversation confirmed her belief. She emphasized that everyone in her group identified the suspects from the police sketches.