The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has made a significant breakthrough in the investigation of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which occurred on April 22, 2025, resulting in the tragic deaths of 26 tourists. Authorities discovered a GoPro Hero 12 Black camera that is believed to play a crucial role in the investigation, shedding light on the pre-attack surveillance, movement patterns, and operational preparations of the terror group involved.
Officials revealed that the camera was supplied to AE Group International Limited, a company based in China, more than a year prior to the incident. Technical records indicate that the device was activated on January 30, 2024, in Dongguan, China. However, the manufacturer has stated that it lacks downstream transaction details and end-user records concerning the camera.
This recovered device is just one part of a larger collection of material objects and electronic devices being scrutinized in conjunction with the ongoing conspiracy investigation. The NIA plans to issue a Letter Rogatory (LR) to the judicial authorities in the People’s Republic of China as part of efforts to identify the purchaser and trace technical records associated with the camera. A Letter Rogatory is a formal request from a court in one country seeking assistance from another country’s judiciary. Approval for this request has already been granted by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
On March 2, a special court in Jammu authorized the NIA to seek judicial assistance from China after considering the agency’s filed application. Prior to this, the NIA had issued a lawful notice under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to GoPro BV, requesting details regarding the supply chain and activation specifics of the camera.
Investigators stress the importance of tracing the chain of custody and user attribution of the seized camera, noting that such efforts are essential for establishing evidentiary links and uncovering the broader conspiracy surrounding the attack. The NIA assumed control of the case from the Jammu and Kashmir Police just five days after the deadly incident, which is noted as one of the most lethal civilian assaults in the region within the last two decades.
