NIA seeks China’s assistance to trace GoPro camera used in Pahalgam terror attack
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has sought China’s judicial assistance to trace a GoPro Hero 12 Black camera linked to the Pahalgam terror attack. The anti-terror agency, during its investigation, found that the Pakistani terrorists had used a Chinese-manufactured GoPro camera for reconnaissance. At around 2 pm on April 22, 2025, Pakistan-based terrorists came down from the mountain in Baisaran valley and opened fire on the tourists.
The NIA, for the first time, has moved an application before a court in Jammu seeking issuance of a Letter of Rogatory to a competent judicial authority in the People’s Republic of China through the Ministry of External Affairs in connection with the ongoing probe into the Pahalgam terror attack case.
In an application moved before the NIA court in Jammu, the Chief Investigating Officer of the NIA stated: “A crucial electronic device is a GoPro Hero 12 Black camera bearing Serial No. C3501325471706, which is relevant for establishing pre-attack reconnaissance, movement, and operational preparation of the terrorist module involved in the Pahalgam attack.”
The NIA subsequently issued a notice to the manufacturer seeking details of the supply chain and activation of the said device. In its official response, GoPro B.V. informed that the camera was supplied to AE Group International Limited, a distributor based in the People’s Republic of China, and that it was activated on 30.01.2024 in Dongguan, People’s Republic of China.
The manufacturer further stated that it does not possess downstream transaction details or end-user records of the device. The activation, initial use, and commercial trail of the device lie within the territorial jurisdiction of the People’s Republic of China. The information necessary to trace the purchaser, end user, and associated technical records can only be obtained through judicial assistance from the Chinese authorities. Hence, the present application.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has given the concurrence for issuance of LR to China for seeking legal assistance in the investigation of the case (RC-02/2025/NIA/JMU) dated April 27, 2025.
A special court in Jammu on March 2 allowed the NIA to seek judicial assistance from China to trace the purchaser and end-user of a GoPro camera allegedly linked to the conspiracy based on an application presented by the agency in Jammu court seeking approval for issuance of an LR to the competent judicial authority of the People’s Republic of China, through the Ministry of External Affairs.
