NIA Traces Terrorist “Action Cam” To China; Judicial Request Sent To Beijing

NEW DELHI / JAMMU — Investigators searching for the digital footprint of the Baisaran Meadow attack have tracked a crucial piece of hardware to a distributor in the People’s Republic of China. The move marks a pivot in the probe from local logistics to the high-tech, cross-border supply chains used by the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) offshoot, The Resistance Front (TRF).

1. The “Action Cam” Evidence

During the April 22 attack—which claimed the lives of 26 people, including 25 tourists—terrorists were seen wearing military-style uniforms and mounted cameras.

• The Device: A GoPro Hero 12 Black (Serial No. C3501325471706).
• Usage: NIA believes the camera was used for pre-attack reconnaissance and to record the “religious segregation” and execution of Hindu tourists for propaganda purposes.

2. The China Connection

The NIA initially contacted GoPro’s headquarters in the Netherlands, which provided a digital trail leading directly to mainland China:

• Distributor: The camera was supplied to AE Group International Limited, a China-based distributor.
• Activation Date: The device was activated on January 30, 2024, in Dongguan, China.
• The Dead End: GoPro informed the NIA that they do not possess “downstream transaction details,” meaning only Chinese authorities can identify the final purchaser or the entity that exported it to terror modules.

3. Context: The Path to “Operation Sindoor”

The Pahalgam attack remains one of the darkest chapters in recent J&K history.

• The Massacre: Terrorists herded tourists in Baisaran Meadow, separated them by religion, and shot Hindu men at point-blank range.
• The Retaliation: In response, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, striking nine terror launchpads in Pakistan and PoK.
• The Perpetrators: The three primary shooters—Suleiman Shah, Hamza Afghani, and Jibran—were eventually eliminated by security forces in Operation Mahadev on July 28, 2025, in the Dachigam forest.

Investigation Timeline: The GoPro Trail