NIA gets custody in Pahalgam Attack

New Delhi

A local Jammu court on Monday granted the National Investigation Agency (NIA) five-day custody of two individuals accused of sheltering Pakistani terrorists involved in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people and injured 16 others.

The arrested suspects have been identified as Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar of Batkote and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park, both residents of the Pahalgam area. They were taken into custody by the NIA on Sunday, marking a major breakthrough in the investigation of what officials describe as one of the deadliest attacks in the region in recent years.

The duo was presented before Additional District and Sessions Judge Ritesh Kumar Dubey in Jammu and remanded to NIA custody till June 27. According to the NIA, the two accused knowingly provided shelter, food, and logistical support to three heavily armed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists at a seasonal hut (dhok) in Hill Park before the attack. During interrogation, both men reportedly revealed the identities of the terrorists, confirming them as Pakistani nationals affiliated with the banned LeT group.

Investigators have also indicated that the attackers deliberately targeted victims based on their religious identity, further aggravating the nature of the crime. The April 22 attack, primarily aimed at tourists, triggered widespread outrage across the country and led to intensified counter-terrorism efforts in Jammu and Kashmir. The NIA continues to investigate the broader network of local collaborators and is pursuing leads that may result in additional arrests. The probe is ongoing.