Pahalgam terror attack: NIA approaches China seeking information on GoPro camera

A GoPro Hero 12 Black camera believed to have been used during the April 22 terror attack at Baisaran Meadow in Pahalgam has been traced to a distributor in China, according to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which has now sought judicial assistance from Beijing to gather further details about the device.

In an application filed before a Jammu court, the federal anti-terror agency said it is issuing a Letter Rogatory (LR) — a formal judicial request to a foreign country — seeking information related to the camera’s supply chain, activation and end user.

During the investigation into the Pahalgam attack, the NIA examined several material objects and electronic devices linked to the alleged conspiracy and execution of the assault. Among them was a GoPro Hero 12 Black camera bearing serial number C3501325471706, which investigators believe could help establish details about pre-attack reconnaissance, movement and operational preparation of the terrorist module.

A court order issued Monday granted permission to the NIA to send the request to China.

The agency had earlier approached GoPro’s Netherlands-based entity for supply-chain information and activation details. In response, GoPro B.V. informed investigators that the camera had been supplied to AE Group International Limited, a distributor based in the People’s Republic of China, and was activated on January 30, 2024, in Dongguan, China.

The manufacturer said it does not maintain records of downstream transactions or end users, and that information about the purchaser and technical usage data would fall within Chinese jurisdiction. As a result, the NIA moved the court to seek judicial cooperation from Chinese authorities.

The April 22 attack at the scenic Baisaran Meadow in Pahalgam killed 25 tourists and a pony operator, sharply escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting alleged terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir before a ceasefire took effect on May 10.

Three alleged attackers — Suleiman Shah, Hamza Afghani alias Afghan and Jibran — were later killed in an encounter with security forces on July 28 in the Dachigam forest area. Investigations into the broader conspiracy remain ongoing.