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Exclusive: In NIA’s Pahalgam chargesheet, 2 Android phones are crucial link to Pak hand

The chargesheet was filed before the Special NIA Court in Jammu on Monday.

2 min readSrinagarUpdated: Dec 16, 2025 11:22 AM IST

In Pahalgam chargesheet, NIA points to crucial link: Two phones bought in Pak

The Pahalgam terror attack left 25 tourists and one local civilian dead.

Two Android phones found at the site of the Dachigam encounter in July are clinching evidence that the Pahalgam terrorists were from Pakistan, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) chargesheet filed in connection with the April terror attack states, it is learnt.

The chargesheet was filed before the Special NIA Court in Jammu on Monday.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha in July, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had announced that three terrorists gunned down in the Dachigam forest area on the outskirts of Srinagar were the same as those involved in the April 22 terror attack. He identified the three as Suleiman alias Faisal Jatt, Afghan and Jibran, and said they had all come from Pakistan.

The NIA chargesheet has relied on, among other things, the two phones found at the encounter site, sources said, adding that the probe agency has confirmed the devices were “bought in Pakistan”.

Read | 3 dead terrorists, LeT and 2 locals named in Pahalgam chargesheet that nails Pak complicity

The chargesheet is over 1,500 pages and details the conspiracy, roles of the accused, and supporting evidence.

The chargesheet has been filed against seven accused (both individuals and terror outfits), including the three Pakistani terrorists killed during ‘Operation Mahadev’ at Dachigam.

The document also names Pakistani “handler” Sajid Jatt and the terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)/The Resistance Front (TRF) as accused. “The banned terrorist organisation LeT/TRF has been chargesheeted for its role in planning, facilitating, and executing the Pahalgam attack,” it states.

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Two other accused, Kashmir residents Parvaiz Ahmad and Bashir Ahmad Jothar, were arrested by the NIA on June 22, 2025, for harbouring militants and have been challaned under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. Both are in judicial custody, the agency said.

The agency is learnt to have stated that during their interrogation, they disclosed the identities of the three armed terrorists involved in the attack, and confirmed that they were Pakistani nationals affiliated to the LeT.

The Pahalgam terror attack left 25 tourists and one local civilian dead.

Naveed Iqbal

Naveed Iqbal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, and reports from Jammu and Kashmir. With a career spanning over 15 years in frontline journalism, Naveed provides authoritative reporting on the region’s transition, governance, and the socio-political implications of national policies. Expertise Regional Specialization: Based in the Srinagar and New Delhi bureaus, Naveed has spent over a decade documenting the unique challenges of Jammu and Kashmir. Her reporting is distinguished by deep contextual knowledge of the region's post-Article 370, statehood debates, and local electoral politics. Key Coverage Beats: Her extensive body of work covers: Politics & Governance: Tracking the National Conference (NC), PDP, and BJP dynamics, including in-depth coverage of J&K’s first Assembly sessions and Rajya Sabha polls following the reorganization of the state. Internal Security & Justice: Providing rigorous reporting on counter-insurgency operations, terror module investigations, and judicial developments involving political detainees and constitutional rights. Education & Minority Affairs: Highlighting systemic issues such as quota rows in J&K, public service commission reforms, and the challenges faced by minority communities. ... Read More

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