Two local citizens arrested in Pahalgam terror attack

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two local Kashmiri citizens in connection with the terror attack in Pahalgam. Parvez Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar are accused of providing shelter to three Pakistani terrorists of the banned terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

According to the investigation, both the accused knowingly sheltered the terrorists in a seasonal hut located at Hill Park in Pahalgam and provided them food and other essential items. The NIA has arrested them under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

It is noteworthy that 26 people, most of whom were tourists, were killed in this attack in Baisaran Valley, famous as “Mini Switzerland”, on 22 April. The terrorists had targeted the tourists on the basis of religious identity, making it the worst terrorist attack in Pahalgam so far.

In response to the attack, India took action through ‘Operation Sindoor’, in which the Indian Armed Forces carried out air strikes against nine terrorist bases located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

According to NIA officials, a detailed investigation is underway in this case, in which more facts may come to light. Preliminary investigations have clearly shown that such a large-scale terror attack was not possible without local support. Security agencies are active in identifying other possible collaborators of the terrorist network in the area.