Pahalgam: In a major development in the ongoing probe into the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two locals for allegedly sheltering the three Pakistani terrorists who carried out the brutal assault that left 26 tourists dead and 16 seriously injured. The arrests come two months after the bloodshed that shocked the nation and strained Indo-Pak relations.
The two arrested individuals — Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar of Batkote and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park, both from the Pahalgam region — are accused of giving refuge to the terrorists before the deadly ambush. According to NIA officials, the duo provided food, shelter, and logistical support to the assailants at a remote hilltop shepherd’s hut (dhok) near Hill Park.
The NIA stated, “This marks the first breakthrough in the case. The two men not only concealed the presence of the terrorists but also assisted them in their operations, fully aware of their intent and affiliation with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a banned Pakistani terror outfit.”
Investigators believe the attackers deliberately targeted tourists based on religious identity, raising the severity of the attack to one of the most gruesome in recent years. The Resistance Front, a shadow organization for LeT, had claimed responsibility for the attack, though Indian authorities maintain it is a façade used by Pakistan to dodge international scrutiny.
The arrested suspects reportedly identified the three attackers as:
- Hashim Musa alias Suleiman (Pakistani national)
- Ali Bhai alias Talha Bhai (Pakistani national)
- Adil Hussain Thokker (local operative)
The government has announced a ₹20 lakh reward for any actionable information leading to the capture of each terrorist.
Two conflicting theories are being pursued by Indian intelligence regarding the current whereabouts of the trio:
- They may have fled across the Line of Control (LoC) following a brief encounter in the Kishtwar area on May 22.
- Alternatively, they are suspected to be hiding in the dense forests of Tral, avoiding detection by completely refraining from electronic communication.
Over the past eight weeks, the NIA has interrogated hundreds of individuals — including pony operators, vendors, local tourism workers, and seasonal shepherds — and analyzed mobile data, surveillance footage, and personal videos taken by tourists at the Baisaran Meadows before the attack.
