Pahalgam Attack: 'Allahu Akbar' chant by zip line operator natural reaction, say NIA sources
Srinagar, Apr 29: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has said that the zip line operator who was heard chanting 'Allahu Akbar' during the recent terror attack in Pahalgam was reacting naturally to the sudden violence and had no known links to the attackers.
The zip line operator, identified as Muzammil, was seen in a viral video recorded on April 22—the day of the attack that claimed 26 lives—chanting 'Allahu Akbar' three times while a tourist used the adventure ride. The video, captured by tourist Rishi Bhatt, showed both the zip line activity and the sound of gunfire during the attack.
After the video gained widespread attention online, the NIA questioned Muzammil about his actions and the timing of his chants. However, NIA sources told India Today TV that chanting 'Allahu Akbar' was likely a spontaneous reaction, similar to how people from other faiths might invoke God during moments of panic or shock. “It is similar to someone saying ‘Hey Ram’ in a moment of fear,” said an NIA source.
While Muzammil reportedly gave different answers when asked why he released the tourist on the zip line after gunfire began, the investigators have not found any evidence so far to directly connect him to the attack.
Rishi Bhatt, who was the last tourist to take the zip line ride before the attack, had claimed that Muzammil chanted 'Allahu Akbar' thrice just before the shooting started. The video was recorded on Bhatt’s camera.
Meanwhile, Muzammil's brother Mukhtar spoke to India Today/Aaj Tak, strongly defending his sibling. He said Muzammil had no prior knowledge of the attack and ran for his life as soon as the firing began.
Reacting to the incident, People's Democratic Party (PDP) spokesperson Mohammad Iqbal Trumboo told ANI that such chants are common in Kashmir during any tragic or shocking incident. “Kashmiris naturally remember Allah during disasters. People outside do not understand our culture. This has nothing to do with militancy,” he said.
Trumboo also criticised the authorities, saying the focus should be on reviewing lapses in the security system rather than targeting innocent individuals.
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Power bank catches fire inside stationary IndiGo plane at Chandigarh airport; all evacuated
New Delhi (PTI): The power bank of a passenger onboard a stationary IndiGo aircraft caught fire at the Chandigarh airport on Tuesday, and all passengers and the crew were evacuated, according to a source.
In a statement, the airline said that when IndiGo flight 6E 108 from Hyderabad to Chandigarh was stationary after landing, an incident involving a customer's personal electronic equipment catching fire was reported.
"In the interest of safety, an immediate evacuation was carried out, and all the relevant authorities were immediately informed. All customers have been safely moved to the terminal and are being attended to by the team to ensure their well-being," the statement said.
The source said that soon after the aircraft landed, there was smoke coming from one of the overhead bins and all onboard were evacuated.
The smoke was due to the power bank catching fire, the source said, adding that no one sustained major injuries.
Details about the number of passengers could not be ascertained.
