NIA gets five days to probe men accused of sheltering Pakistani attackers behind Pahalgam bloodshed
by Utsav RoyOn Monday, a local court approved a five-day remand for two individuals arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for allegedly sheltering Pakistani militants responsible for the horrific Pahalgam terror strike in April, officials confirmed.
The accused, identified as Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar of Batkote, Pahalgam, and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park, Pahalgam, were taken into custody on Sunday. This marks the first significant progress in the investigation of the April 22 massacre, which claimed the lives of 26 people, most of whom were tourists, and left 16 others injured.
According to the NIA, the two arrested men have revealed the identities of the three terrorists involved in the attack. They confirmed that the attackers were Pakistani nationals associated with the proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
The suspects were brought before Ritesh Kumar Dubey, Additional District and Sessions Judge, Jammu, who granted NIA custody of the duo until June 27, according to court officials.
Investigators discovered that Parvaiz and Bashir had knowingly provided refuge to the three gunmen at a temporary shepherd shelter, known locally as a “dhok,” in the Hill Park area before the deadly strike. The two offered the assailants food, safe lodging, and other logistical support essential to their mission.
On the afternoon of the attack, the terrorists carried out targeted killings of tourists based on their religious identity, making it one of the most brutal terror attacks in recent history, the NIA stated.
The attack not only shocked the local community but also raised serious concerns about cross-border infiltration and the role of local networks in aiding foreign terrorists. Authorities are continuing to investigate potential wider involvement and support mechanisms behind the incident.
With the remand granted, NIA officials hope to extract more critical intelligence from the accused, potentially leading to the identification of additional conspirators and the operational network behind the attack.