Exclusive: Pahalgam attackers fired in air in ‘celebration’ after gunning down 26 civilians, star witness tells investigators

Last month, the NIA had arrested two locals — Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad — for allegedly harbouring the attackers. “They disclosed the identities of the three armed terrorists and confirmed that they were Pakistani nationals affiliated to the Lashkar-e-Toiba,” an NIA spokesperson had said.

As its probe proceeded, the NIA found a local — now the star witness — who was able to share key details of what transpired in the minutes after the attack. He is learnt to have told investigators 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,” said a source, who is familiar with his statement.

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.

Investigators have also questioned Parvaiz and Bashir at length, based on which they now know what transpired in the run-up to the attack.

“Parvaiz has claimed that a day before the incident, all three attackers came 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 in a central intelligence agency said.

Before leaving, the men asked Parvaiz’s wife to pack some spices and uncooked rice, and gave the family five notes of Rs 500. “Afterwards, they met Bashir. They asked them (the two locals) to reach Baisaran around 12:30 pm on April 22 and left for a seasonal dhok (hut) at Hill Park,” the source said.

Sources said one of the attackers is believed to be Suleiman Shah, who was involved in the killing of seven employees of a firm constructing the Z-Morh tunnel on the Srinagar-Sonamarg highway on October 20 last year.