Wanted LeT terrorist in Saudi: Security agencies
Umer Harris alias ‘Khargosh’, a wanted Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiyyaba (LeT) terrorist, is believed to be hiding in Saudi Arabia after escaping India in 2024-25 using a forged Indian passport. Indian security agencies and Jammu and Kashmir Police, uncovered his movements during a crackdown on an inter-State LeT module.
Umer hails from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan and joined LeT to evade arrest in multiple pending arson cases in Pakistan. He managed to infiltrate into J&K in 2012 and was part of a broader network of operatives active for around 16 years. He had entered the Kashmir Valley from the northern side.
He operated primarily from Bandipora and Srinagar in the Kashmir Valley, frequently changing hideouts to evade security forces, which earned him the alias ‘Khargosh’ for his quick ‘hopping movements’ to change his hideout.
As a key figure in LeT’s inter-State network, spanning J&K, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab, Umer commanded around 40 foreign terrorists over the years, who were neutralised by the Indian security forces in different operations.
He is categorised as an ‘A+’ grade terrorist. He assumed the fake Indian identity of ‘Sajjad’, claiming to be a resident of Rajasthan. Investigations have established that certain locals provided logistical support, including shelter, food, arms procurement and forged identities such as Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID and passport to Umer.
He married the daughter of a LeT Over Ground Worker (OGW) under this alias. The Nikah was held in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Marriage documents were later used to support his passport application. The bride’s father was detained for allegedly knowing Harris’s true identity.
Using forged documents and the Rajasthan residency claim, he obtained an Indian passport in the name of Sajjad. Questions have been raised about lapses in police verification during issuance.
He fled India in 2024, using the fake passport. He first went to Indonesia. From there, he used another forged travel document to reach Saudi Arabia.
There is no extradition treaty between India and Saudi Arabia, but J&K authorities with help from central agencies and the Union Ministry of External Affairs, are pursuing his extradition through diplomatic channels.
The details emerged during a major Srinagar Police operation launched on 31 March 2026, directly monitored by DGP Nalin Prabhat targeting a deep-rooted inter-state LeT module. The case was registered earlier in April 2026 and is likely to be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Details have been shared with central agencies and state police to plug loopholes in document verification and passport issuance.
The operation led to the arrest of two Pakistani terrorists Abdullah alias Abu Hureira, who was on the run for 16 years and Usman alias Khubaib from Malerkotla district in Punjab. Subsequent investigation led to the arrest of three Srinagar residents identified as Mohammad Naqeeb Bhat, Adil Rashid Bhat and Ghulam Mohammad Mir alias Mama by the J&K Police.
Their interrogations revealed the module’s funding networks, hideouts in forested areas around Srinagar, and links to arms procurement. This operation followed the dismantling of a ‘white-collar’ LeT cell linked to Faridabad’s Al Falah University in November 2025.
