Sharma, a resident of Muzzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, moved to Kashmir in 2012 after he came in contact with a Kashmiri businessman in Patiala, sources in the valley said.
For the last six months, he has been based in Kulgam district, obstensibly working as a welder, but actually looting ATMs.
The 28-year-old man, who figured in militant chat groups as 'Adil', came close to the Lashker-e-Taiba terror group when he helped terrorists loot several ATMs in the valley.
From looting ATMs, he soon moved to joining terrorist operations, they said.
Also Read
He was a part of the terror group which carried out strikes at the Army at Lower Munda, which led to the death of a personnel, the killing of Achabal SHO Feroz Dar and of five other policemen.
Sharma became close to Bashir Lashker, the Lashker terrorist who was killed recently, after he helped the terror group steal Rs 20 lakh from various ATMs in South Kashmir, the sources said.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content