NIA Arrests Two for Allegedly Aiding Terrorists in Pahalgam Attack

Arrests Made in Connection with Pahalgam Terror Attack

On Sunday, the National Investigation Agency announced the apprehension of two individuals suspected of providing shelter to the terrorists involved in the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

The suspects have been identified as Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from the Batkote region and Bashir Ahmad Jothar from Hill Park.

According to the agency, both men revealed the identities of the three armed assailants responsible for the attack, confirming that they were Pakistani nationals linked to the banned terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

The NIA alleges that the two men knowingly sheltered the terrorists in a seasonal hut at Hill Park prior to the attack, providing them with food, shelter, and logistical assistance.

Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar have been charged under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, which penalizes the harboring or concealment of terrorists.

The attack at Baisaran, near Pahalgam, resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals and left 16 others injured. Reports indicate that the terrorists targeted tourists based on their names to determine their religion, with all but three of the deceased being Hindu.

In response, the Indian military conducted strikes on May 7, dubbed Operation Sindoor, targeting what it claimed were terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The Pakistan Army retaliated by shelling Indian villages along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of at least 22 Indian civilians and eight defense personnel.

On May 10, both nations reached an agreement to cease hostilities following four days of conflict.