NIA to file chargesheet today in Pahalgam terror attack case

Following the April 22 attack, the Jammu and Kashmir Police had released sketches of at least three terrorists and announced a reward of Rs 20 lakh each for information on them. “The case was registered by the NIA, and they questioned over 350 locals, including pony operators, shopkeepers, photographers, and those employed in adventure sports activities,” a source said.

The first breakthrough in the case came on June 22, when two men, identified as Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from Batkote in Pahalgam, and Bashir Ahmad Jothar from Hill Park, Pahalgam, were arrested on charges of harbouring the terrorists involved in the attack and providing them food and logistical support. “They disclosed the identities of the three armed terrorists and confirmed that they were Pakistani nationals affiliated to the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT),” the agency’s spokesperson had said at the time.

“Parvaiz claimed that a day before the incident, all three attackers went to his house around 3.30 pm and asked for food. They were carrying weapons. His wife served them food, and they sat for around four hours, asking questions related to security arrangements in Baisaran, tourist gathering spots, routes, and timings,” a source said.

Local resident shared crucial details with probe team
In its chargesheet, the NIA has mentioned that as the probe proceeded, investigators found a local resident — now a key witness — who was able to share crucial details of what transpired in the minutes after the attack. He is learnt to have told the officers that the gunmen stopped him while they were leaving Baisaran after gunning down the civilians. “He was asked to recite the kalma, and once he started speaking in his local accent, they spared him. They started celebratory firing — four rounds were shot in the air,” the source added.

On the basis of his statement, the investigation team seized four used cartridges from the spot. The man is also learnt to have told investigators that he saw Parvaiz and Bashir — the two arrested locals — allegedly standing near a hill and looking after the belongings of the attackers, which the gunmen eventually collected from them.

On July 22, the three terrorists were gunned down in the Dachigam forest area on the outskirts of Srinagar. They were identified as Suleiman alias Faisal Jatt, Afghan and Jibran. “The three were killed in ‘Operation Mahadev’ carried out by the Army’s 4 Para, CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) and J&K Police jointly. Suleiman was an A-grade LeT commander, and was involved in the Pahalgam and Gagangeer (the Z-Morh tunnel) attacks. Our agencies have ample evidence of this,” Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said at the time.

“Afghan was an A-grade LeT commander and Jibran was also an A-grade terrorist. These three terrorists were those who killed our citizens in Baisaran (Pahalgam), and all three have been killed,” Shah had stated.