The tragic and horrifying attack that happened in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 innocent individuals, has revealed a gruesome detail that highlights the sheer cruelty of the terrorists. Among the victims, the bodies of 20 male victims' gave the evidence that the attackers attempted to determine the religious affiliation of their victims before killing them.

A group of officials, including army officers, J&K police, and the J&K administration, discovered a disturbing fact in the first examination of the victims. The underclothing of nearly 20 male victims was torn off by force, and their trousers were unzipped or pulled down, revealing their underwear or intimate parts. This fact, in the opinion of the authorities, highly indicates that the terrorists performed a "faith-determination test" prior to executing the victims.

The bodies of the victims were initially covered with a shroud by staff who recovered them, and their families were likely too shocked to notice the state of the clothing. It was only during the detailed examination that the officers observed the terrifying signs of what had occurred. The terrorists are believed to have forced the victims through three specific "tests" to establish their faith before execution.

Eyewitnesses from the attack recount that the terrorists checked the victims’ religious identity by demanding identification proofs such as Aadhaar cards or driving licenses. They also ordered the victims to recite the "kalma" (Muslim prayer verse) and, in the most chilling part of the ordeal, forced the victims to remove their lower clothing to check for circumcision. Once the terrorists had confirmed the victims’ Hindu identities, they shot them at point-blank range.

Once their Hindu identities were established through these 3 'tests', the terrorists shot the victims at close range. Twenty-five of the 26 people killed in Tuesday's attack were Hindus, all of them males.

The authorities have already launched an intense investigation into the massacre, with sources revealing that nearly about 70 overground workers (OGWs) and known terror sympathizers are being questioned. These individuals come from various regions of Jammu and Kashmir, including Tral, Pulwama, Anantnag, and Kulgam.

"Initially, the probe team rounded up 1,500 OGWs to examine their possible role. These have been narrowed down to 70 OGWs strongly suspected to have helped the Pahalgam attack team with logistics. We hope to narrow the search further and get to the real culprits soon," a J&K administration officer said. As the investigation continues, the authorities are determined to find out who is behind this horrifying act and bring them to justice.

The terror incident has struck the community in absolute shock while the violent nature of the attack has even disturbed veteran law enforcement officials. The probe extends forward as investigators attempt to uncover all conspiratorial aspects of the assault while pursuing justice through suitable prosecution of those involved in the operation.