File photo JAMMU: Fifteen months before Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists killed 25 tourists and a Kashmiri pony handler at Baisaran in J&K’s Pahalgam on April 22 last year, a GoPro action camera now in NIA custody as a “crucial” piece of reconnaissance evidence was first activated in China’s Dongguan, investigators told a Jammu court this week.The special court allowed Monday NIA’s plea for a “letter rogatory” – legalese for a formal request from one country to another for judicial assistance – to be sent to the Chinese govt through the ministry of external affairs to help trace who bought the device and how it ended up in the hands of a terror module operating in J&K.The home ministry has already cleared the request submitted by NIA DIG Sandeep Choudhary.The GoPro Hero 12 Black camera, bearing serial number C3501325471706, is among several electronic devices and other items seized during the investigation into the terrorist attack targeting tourists in one of J&K’s more popular destinations.Israel attacks IranUS-Israel-Iran War Live Updates: Iran launches ‘massive missile’ strike at US airbase in Bahrain; Israel bombs BeirutFrom Khamenei’s compound to nuclear complex: Satellite images show aftermath of Iranian sites after US-Israel strikesOperation Epic Fury: US spends $700m in 24 hours; final war cost remains uncertainNIA told the special judge that finding out who procured and activated the camera in China was integral to establishing pre-attack reconnaissance, movement patterns and operational preparedness of the Pakistan-backed terrorists.The agency previously issued notice to manufacturer GoPro BV, seeking details of the specific camera’s distribution chain and activation.GoPro’s response revealed that the camera was supplied to AE Group International Ltd, a distributor based in China, and activated in Dongguan – an industrial hub in central Guangdong province – on Jan 30, 2024. The manufacturer informed NIA that it didn’t hold downstream transaction records or end-user details, making Chinese authorities the only route to identifying the buyer.Since India and China don’t have a bilateral mutual legal assistance treaty, the request will be routed through the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, which both countries have ratified.The court acknowledged that the information sought by NIA was “very important in establishing the chain of custody, user attribution and evidentiary linkage of the camera to the wider conspiracy”. It directed the investigating officer to upload the request with Chinese translations on the mutual legal assistance portal and send copies through CBI’s international police cooperation unit in Delhi for forwarding to China through diplomatic channels.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIsrael Bombs Iran’s Presidential Office, Trump Says Iran’s Leadership ‘Gone’, ‘Too Late For Talks’Mercedes Benz India: Why the FTA Won’t Lower Car Prices in 2026PM Modi Steps Up Gulf Diplomacy Amid US Iran War, India Warns Of Serious Consequences On EconomyBihar Buzz: Will CM Nitish Kumar’s Son Nishant Kumar Enter Politics Through Rajya Sabha Route?As Protests Break Out In India, A Look At Why Ayatollah Khamenei Was Spiritual Anchor For Shia Muslims“Not the Right Choice But The Only Choice”: IAF Veteran on Rafale DilemmaDelhi Police Detain 4,000 In Pre-Holi Crackdown Under Operation Aaghat 4.0Narendra Modi: Global Digital Leader Surpasses 30 Million YouTube SubscribersIndian Air Force Begins Process To Replace 20-Year-Old VIP Jets Used By Ministers And Military ChiefsIndia-Canada Uranium Deal Explained: Why It Matters For India’s Future?123Photostories14 types of veg and non-veg deep-fried pakodas to make the Holi party even more flavourfulRevenge bedtime procrastination: Why you stay up late even when you’re exhausted and how to win over this habitIs Gossip Really That Bad? 5 Surprising Reasons Psychology Says It’s Actually Good for YouLab-grown gold vs mined gold: What’s the real difference in price, purity, and investment value?Lunar eclipse 2026: See stunning ‘Blood Moon’ photos from across the worldTotal lunar eclipse 2026: Photos of rare ‘Blood Moon’Holi 2026: From Devoleena Bhattacharjee and husband Shanwaz, Gaurav Khanna-Akanksha Chamola to Divyanka Tripathi- Vivek Dahiya; TV celebs’ colourful pictures from the festivitiesTop 5 tallest residential buildings in Europe (2026)5 of the worst travel crisis the world has seen since 2020From salad to halwa: 8 ways to consume raw papaya to improve gut health123Hot PicksIran droneUS Iran War Impact on Stock MarketMiddle East CrisisGulf Flights UpdateIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingNBA Injury UpdateUS Israel Strike IranUS Attack on IranCBSE postpones Class 10 and 12 board examsUS Strike IranLG Hospital AhmedabadMiddle East CrisisIsrael Iran ConflictChandra Grahan 2026 TimeSchool Holiday in March
JAMMU: Fifteen months before Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists killed 25 tourists and a Kashmiri pony handler at Baisaran in J&K’s Pahalgam on April 22 last year, a GoPro action camera now in NIA custody as a “crucial” piece of reconnaissance evidence was first activated in China’s Dongguan, investigators told a Jammu court this week.The special court allowed Monday NIA’s plea for a “letter rogatory” – legalese for a formal request from one country to another for judicial assistance – to be sent to the Chinese govt through the ministry of external affairs to help trace who bought the device and how it ended up in the hands of a terror module operating in J&K.The home ministry has already cleared the request submitted by NIA DIG Sandeep Choudhary.The GoPro Hero 12 Black camera, bearing serial number C3501325471706, is among several electronic devices and other items seized during the investigation into the terrorist attack targeting tourists in one of J&K’s more popular destinations.NIA told the special judge that finding out who procured and activated the camera in China was integral to establishing pre-attack reconnaissance, movement patterns and operational preparedness of the Pakistan-backed terrorists.The agency previously issued notice to manufacturer GoPro BV, seeking details of the specific camera’s distribution chain and activation.GoPro’s response revealed that the camera was supplied to AE Group International Ltd, a distributor based in China, and activated in Dongguan – an industrial hub in central Guangdong province – on Jan 30, 2024. The manufacturer informed NIA that it didn’t hold downstream transaction records or end-user details, making Chinese authorities the only route to identifying the buyer.Since India and China don’t have a bilateral mutual legal assistance treaty, the request will be routed through the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, which both countries have ratified.The court acknowledged that the information sought by NIA was “very important in establishing the chain of custody, user attribution and evidentiary linkage of the camera to the wider conspiracy”. It directed the investigating officer to upload the request with Chinese translations on the mutual legal assistance portal and send copies through CBI’s international police cooperation unit in Delhi for forwarding to China through diplomatic channels.
