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Budgam Police recover medicines and food items near the Doodhpathri encounter site as the investigation widens. (Img: Dynamite News)
Budgam: Police have recovered a bag containing medicines and food items near Palmaidan in Doodhpathri, days after Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Hashim Moosa was killed in an encounter in the area. The recovery has opened a fresh line of investigation into whether a possible logistical support network helped the slain terrorist remain in the region.
The discovery is significant because investigators are now examining not just the circumstances of the September 29 encounter, but also how Moosa may have obtained essential supplies while staying in the area.
The recovery was made as part of the continuing investigation into the Doodhpathri encounter. Security forces had launched the operation on September 29 following intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area.
Police suspect that the recovered medicines and eatables may have been meant for Moosa. However, investigators are yet to establish the source of the material, how it reached Palmaidan and whether it had any direct connection with the slain terrorist.
The recovery has therefore added a new dimension to the case, with investigators examining the possible support infrastructure surrounding Moosa.
Budgam Police are investigating the origin of the medicines and food items and are trying to determine who may have arranged or transported them. Investigators are also examining whether any individuals acted as logistical facilitators or provided other assistance to Moosa.
Such assistance could potentially involve arranging food or medicines, providing shelter, helping with movement or offering other forms of support that could enable a militant to remain concealed in a remote or forested area.
However, the suspected support network remains an investigative angle at this stage. The recovery of the material alone does not establish the involvement of any particular individual.
The latest development comes days after the September 29 encounter in Doodhpathri. The operation followed intelligence inputs and coordinated action by security forces. Hashim Moosa was identified by authorities as a Lashkar-e-Taiba commander and was killed during the operation.
After the encounter, investigators began examining the circumstances surrounding his presence in Doodhpathri, including the possibility that he had received assistance while operating in the area. The newly recovered material could provide investigators with additional leads as they reconstruct his movements and possible sources of support.
One of the key questions before investigators is how the bag reached the area. Police are examining the origin of the medicines and food items and whether they were delivered shortly before the encounter or placed at the location earlier.
Investigators are also expected to examine available evidence and leads to determine whether the material can be connected to Moosa. Tracing the possible supply chain could help establish whether the slain terrorist had access to a wider network of people providing logistical assistance.
Police said they are pursuing all available leads as the investigation continues. The probe is not limited to the recovered bag. Investigators are also looking into how Moosa reached Doodhpathri and whether he had access to a wider network in the area.
From a counter-terrorism perspective, tracing logistics is important because food, medicines, shelter, communication and movement assistance can help armed operatives remain hidden and sustain themselves in difficult terrain.
The investigation is being conducted in connection with FIR No. 181/2026 registered at Police Station Khansahib under relevant provisions of law. The case will examine the circumstances surrounding the recovery and any possible links between the material and the slain Lashkar-e-Taiba commander. Police are continuing the investigation and are expected to follow additional leads as evidence is verified.
The recovery could be important because it may offer investigators clues about how Moosa sustained himself while staying in the Doodhpathri area.
Remote forest and mountainous locations can provide concealment, but maintaining a prolonged presence can require access to basic supplies and assistance.
For security agencies, identifying a possible logistical chain can help investigators understand the wider support ecosystem around militant activity and determine whether other individuals were involved.
The immediate focus of the investigation is on establishing the source of the recovered medicines and food, tracing how they reached Palmaidan and determining whether they were connected to Hashim Moosa. Budgam Police are also working to identify anyone who may have provided logistical or other assistance. Further investigation is underway in connection with FIR No. 181/2026.
