In a devastating incident on Sunday, seven individuals lost their lives when terrorists opened fire at a construction site in Ganderbal district, Jammu and Kashmir.
Among the victims were a Kashmiri doctor, laborers, and staff members of a contractor working on the tunnel for the Srinagar-Leh national highway.
This attack marks the deadliest assault on civilians in the region since a June 9 incident in Reasi, where nine pilgrims were killed when their bus fell into a valley after coming under gunfire from terrorists.
Hours after the attack sent shockwaves through the Valley, the Resistance Front, a group designated as a terrorist outfit by India, claimed responsibility for the deed.
The emergence of 'The Resistance Front'
The Resistance Front (TRF) was formed following the abrogation of Article 370, initially operating as an online entity. Within six months, it evolved into a physical group by integrating militants from various factions, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
The establishment of the TRF was seen as a strategic maneuver by Pakistan, which at the time was responding to pressure from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to address its terror funding concerns.
In 2023, India officially designated the TRF as a terrorist organisation in 2023.
Since its inception in 2019, the group has been implicated in numerous attacks, establishing itself as a significant threat in the region.
While the TRF portrays itself as a local resistance movement, its creation aligns with the historical narratives that once echoed in the Kashmir Valley. It operates under the guise of resisting oppression rather than engaging in outright terrorism.
This strategic approach allows it to distance itself from LeT and its notorious leader, Hafiz Saeed, presenting its actions as part of a grassroots struggle rather than as a manifestation of religious terrorism.
The man behind the TRF
Sheikh Sajjad Gul, also known as Sheikh Sajjad, is a Kashmiri militant and the founder of the Resistance Front.
He was implicated in a criminal conspiracy to assassinate prominent journalist Shujaat Bukhari along with two of his personal security officers in Srinagar on June 14, 2018.
Due to his involvement in terrorism, the Indian home ministry designated Gul as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in 2022.
Born on October 10, 1974, in Rose Avenue Colony, HMT Shalteng, Srinagar, Gul is a commander within LeT and the 37th individual to be declared a designated terrorist by the Indian government.
The security challenge posed by the TRF
Since its formation, the TRF has been responsible for multiple terror attacks, particularly targeting minority Kashmiri Pandits.
It has emerged as one of the most active terrorist organizations in Kashmir, frequently claiming responsibility for attacks to draw attention away from LeT. The TRF primarily utilizes funding channels established by LeT.
In 2022, Jammu and Kashmir Police reported that security forces conducted over 90 operations, resulting in the deaths of 172 terrorists, including 42 foreign nationals.
Of those, 108 were affiliated with the TRF or LeT, highlighting the group's significant recruitment efforts—74 out of every 100 new recruits were reportedly drawn to the TRF.
Among the victims were a Kashmiri doctor, laborers, and staff members of a contractor working on the tunnel for the Srinagar-Leh national highway.
This attack marks the deadliest assault on civilians in the region since a June 9 incident in Reasi, where nine pilgrims were killed when their bus fell into a valley after coming under gunfire from terrorists.
Hours after the attack sent shockwaves through the Valley, the Resistance Front, a group designated as a terrorist outfit by India, claimed responsibility for the deed.
The emergence of 'The Resistance Front'
The Resistance Front (TRF) was formed following the abrogation of Article 370, initially operating as an online entity. Within six months, it evolved into a physical group by integrating militants from various factions, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
The establishment of the TRF was seen as a strategic maneuver by Pakistan, which at the time was responding to pressure from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to address its terror funding concerns.
In 2023, India officially designated the TRF as a terrorist organisation in 2023.
Since its inception in 2019, the group has been implicated in numerous attacks, establishing itself as a significant threat in the region.
While the TRF portrays itself as a local resistance movement, its creation aligns with the historical narratives that once echoed in the Kashmir Valley. It operates under the guise of resisting oppression rather than engaging in outright terrorism.
This strategic approach allows it to distance itself from LeT and its notorious leader, Hafiz Saeed, presenting its actions as part of a grassroots struggle rather than as a manifestation of religious terrorism.
The man behind the TRF
Sheikh Sajjad Gul, also known as Sheikh Sajjad, is a Kashmiri militant and the founder of the Resistance Front.
He was implicated in a criminal conspiracy to assassinate prominent journalist Shujaat Bukhari along with two of his personal security officers in Srinagar on June 14, 2018.
Due to his involvement in terrorism, the Indian home ministry designated Gul as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in 2022.
Born on October 10, 1974, in Rose Avenue Colony, HMT Shalteng, Srinagar, Gul is a commander within LeT and the 37th individual to be declared a designated terrorist by the Indian government.
The security challenge posed by the TRF
Since its formation, the TRF has been responsible for multiple terror attacks, particularly targeting minority Kashmiri Pandits.
It has emerged as one of the most active terrorist organizations in Kashmir, frequently claiming responsibility for attacks to draw attention away from LeT. The TRF primarily utilizes funding channels established by LeT.
In 2022, Jammu and Kashmir Police reported that security forces conducted over 90 operations, resulting in the deaths of 172 terrorists, including 42 foreign nationals.
Of those, 108 were affiliated with the TRF or LeT, highlighting the group's significant recruitment efforts—74 out of every 100 new recruits were reportedly drawn to the TRF.
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