Identities of Pakistani LeT Militants Behind April 22 Massacre Revealed
Diplomat Correspondent
New Delhi,(DD): In a major breakthrough in the Pahalgam terror attack case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two residents of the Pahalgam area for allegedly harbouring the terrorists responsible for the deadly assault that killed 26 tourists and left 16 others seriously injured.
The accused, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar of Batkote and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park, reportedly provided shelter, food, and logistical support to the militants in a remote seasonal hut (dhok) in Hill Park prior to the attack. During interrogation, the two men disclosed the identities of the three perpetrators, confirming they were Pakistani nationals affiliated with the banned terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
According to NIA findings, the attack was meticulously planned, with the assailants deliberately targeting civilians based on religious identity. The incident, which took place on 22 April in the Baisaran Valley of Pahalgam, has been described as one of the most gruesome terrorist strikes in recent memory.
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The duo has been booked under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The NIA took over the investigation soon after the attack and has registered the case as RC-02/2025/NIA/JMU. Investigations are ongoing.
In the wake of the attack, Indian security forces launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ to dismantle terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Domestically, a comprehensive crackdown on terror sympathisers and infrastructure has also intensified to prevent further atrocities(DD)
