New Delhi: Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative Umer Harris, also known as “Khargosh,” is suspected to have reached Saudi Arabia after fleeing India using forged travel documents, officials told PTI.
The report said investigators believe Harris secured an Indian passport under a fake identity, posing as “Sajjad,” a resident of Rajasthan, before escaping the country. The development has raised serious concerns about lapses in verification systems, with the Srinagar Police sharing details of the case with central intelligence agencies.
The case, initially registered by the Jammu and Kashmir Police earlier this month, is likely to be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Authorities have also alerted police units in multiple states to plug loopholes that may have enabled the misuse of official documentation.
Contrary to earlier reports suggesting Harris was from Karachi, investigations now indicate he hails from Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. He reportedly joined LeT to evade prosecution in multiple arson cases in Karachi and was later infiltrated into Jammu and Kashmir in 2012.
Nicknamed “Khargosh” for his ability to frequently change locations and evade security forces, Harris operated across Bandipora and Srinagar after entering the Valley. He later married the daughter of a local Over Ground Worker (OGW) of the terror outfit, the news agency reported.
The marriage, conducted in Jaipur under his assumed identity, was used to strengthen his claim for Indian documents, including a passport.
The report quoting officials said Harris first fled to Indonesia and is believed to have moved to Saudi Arabia between 2024 and 2025 using another forged document. Efforts are underway through diplomatic channels to secure his deportation.
The revelations emerged after Srinagar Police dismantled a “deep-rooted” inter-state LeT module, arresting five individuals, including Pakistani nationals Abdullah alias Abu Hureira and Usman alias Khubaib. Abdullah had been evading arrest for 16 years and was instrumental in expanding the group’s operations beyond Jammu and Kashmir.
Interrogations revealed details of Harris and Abdullah’s movements across Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab, including the Jaipur marriage. The bride’s father has also been detained for allegedly knowing Harris’ true identity.
Police said the operation, launched on March 31 under the supervision of Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, exposed a wide network involving forged identities, financial channels and logistical support systems spanning multiple states.
Three Srinagar residents, Mohammad Naqeeb Bhat, Adil Rashid Bhat and Ghulam Mohammad Mir, were among those arrested for providing shelter and assistance. The probe also led to the discovery of hideouts in forested areas around Srinagar, the news agency reported.
