A special NIA court in Jammu has issued a Letter Rogatory to China seeking legal assistance to trace the supply chain and end-user details of a GoPro camera linked to the Pahalgam terror attack investigation. The attack, carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists last April, killed 25 tourists and a local guide. The GoPro company stated that the device was supplied to a distributor in China.
On April 22 last year, terrorists affiliated with the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit attacked the Pahalgam hill resort in south Kashmir, killing 25 tourists and a local guide. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) seized various materials and electronic devices during the probe, including a GoPro Hero 12 Black Camera with serial number C3501325471706. This device is considered crucial for establishing pre-attack reconnaissance, movements, and operational preparations by the terrorist module.
An application filed by NIA Deputy Inspector General Sandeep Choudhary under Section 112 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) led to a notice issued to GoPro B V. The manufacturer responded that the camera was supplied to AE Group International Limited, a distributor in the People's Republic of China, and was activated on January 30, 2024, in Dongguan, China. GoPro stated it lacks downstream transaction details or end-user records, and such information falls under Chinese jurisdiction.
Since India and China are not signatories to a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT), assistance is being sought under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), ratified by both nations. With concurrence from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the special NIA court in Jammu issued the Letter Rogatory to Chinese authorities to trace the purchaser, end-user, and associated technical records. The court emphasized the importance of this data for establishing the chain of custody, user attribution, and evidentiary links of the seized device. Procedural directions were given for forwarding translated copies in Chinese through diplomatic channels.
