Premium

Pahalgam terror attack: 1 of 4 attackers identified, NIA team reaches crime scene

The team of senior NIA officers that has arrived in Pahalgam has been asked to provide assistance to the local police and examine statements of all the witnesses.

Jammu region on high alert, protests break out in several locations after attack on tourists in Pahalgam

Security personnel rush to the spot after terrorists attacked a group of tourists at Pahalgam, in Anantnag district, Jammu & Kashmir, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (PTI Photo)

A day after at least 25 tourists and a Valley resident were shot dead at a meadow near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, one of the attackers has been identified as Adil, a local overground worker who recently came back from Pakistan and was spotted by the locals, a source in a central agency said on Wednesday.

Another local attacker was also identified, but central agencies are trying to get some more clarity with the help of local police, the source added.

Meanwhile, a team of senior National Investigation Agency (NIA) officers reached the crime scene on Wednesday. The NIA is likely to take over the investigation into the deadliest terror attack on civilians in the country since the 26/11 Mumbai attacks from the local police after the registration of the FIR.

Story continues below this ad

Also Read | Pahalgam terror attack | Terrorists were wearing camouflage outfits, carried M4 carbine, AK-47s, fired 70 rounds: Initial probe

“A team of senior officers of the NIA, led by an IG-rank officer, has reached Pahalgam and will visit the crime scene. Firstly, they have been asked to provide assistance to the local police and examine statements of all the witnesses,” the source said.

A preliminary investigation has revealed that at least four terrorists, clad in camouflage outfits and kurta-pyjamas, came to the Baisaran meadow and opened fire with American-made M4 carbine assault rifles and AK-47s. Some 50-70 used cartridges had been recovered from the incident site by Tuesday evening.

Two terrorists, the source said, were carrying M4 carbine assault rifles while the other two were carrying AK-47s. “After reaching the meadow, the terrorists first held the tourists hostage at gunpoint and then asked all women and children to stay away. They fired from close range after inquiring about identities. They later resorted to indiscriminate firing,” the source said.

Mahender Singh Manral

Mahender Singh Manral is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. He is known for his impactful and breaking stories. He covers the Ministry of Home Affairs, Investigative Agencies, National Investigative Agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, Law Enforcement Agencies, Paramilitary Forces, and internal security. Prior to this, Manral had extensively reported on city-based crime stories along with that he also covered the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government for a decade. He is known for his knack for News and a detailed understanding of stories. He also worked with Mail Today as a senior correspondent for eleven months. He has also worked with The Pioneer for two years where he was exclusively covering crime beat. During his initial days of the career he also worked with The Statesman newspaper in the national capital, where he was entrusted with beats like crime, education, and the Delhi Jal Board. A graduate in Mass Communication, Manral is always in search of stories that impact lives. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram