The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two local residents for allegedly providing shelter and support to the Pakistani terrorists responsible for the massacre that claimed 26 lives and injured 16.
The accused—Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar of Batkote and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park, Pahalgam—were found to have harboured three armed members of the proscribed outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in a seasonal hut ahead of the attack. According to NIA sources, the accused offered logistical assistance, including food and shelter, fully aware of the terrorists’ identities and motives.
The April 22 attack at Baisaran in the Anantnag district sent shockwaves across the country, particularly because the assailants allegedly targeted tourists based on religious identity, marking it as one of the most gruesome and communally divisive terror strikes in Kashmir’s recent history.
While the J&K Police had earlier released sketches of the suspected perpetrators, uncertainty persisted around their exact numbers. With the arrest of Parvaiz and Bashir under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, investigators hope to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy and confirm whether more operatives were involved.
The probe continues as national security agencies work in tandem to trace cross-border linkages and dismantle the remaining sleeper cells potentially linked to this operation.
