New Delhi, June 22, 2025 (KDC): In a major breakthrough in the deadly Pahalgam terror attack case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday said that it has arrested two individuals accused of sheltering the three Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists who carried out the brutal massacre of 26 innocent tourists including one local in April this year.
The accused, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar of Batkote and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park, Pahalgam, have been taken into custody under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the NIA said in an official release to Srinagar based news agency Kashmir Dot Com.
According to the agency, the two men knowingly provided food, shelter, and logistical support to the LeT terrorists at a seasonal dhok (hut) in Hill Park prior to the attack. The terrorists used this hideout as a staging ground before launching their assault on April 22, where 26 unarmed tourists were killed and 16 others grievously injured, in what investigators now confirm was a religiously motivated targeted killing.
The NIA stated that the arrested duo had confirmed the identities of the attackers, all of whom were Pakistani nationals affiliated with the banned LeT outfit. The agency also emphasized the deliberate and brutal nature of the killings, describing the attack as one of the most gruesome terror incidents in recent times.
The case, registered as RC-02/2025/NIA/JMU, is being handled by the Jammu branch of the NIA, which continues its probe into wider links, possible local networks, and cross-border handlers involved in orchestrating the attack.
Further investigations are underway, NIA said. (KDC)
