Pahalgam terror attack: NIA assumes charge of probe, identifies 14 Pak-linked local terrorists

The NIA commenced its probe after visiting the attack site on April 23, just a day after the attack, in support of the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has formally assumed control of the investigation into the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 tourists on April 22.

The agency registered a fresh FIR on Saturday, following an order from the Ministry of Home Affairs, citing the involvement of Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba’s affiliate, The Resistance Front (TRF).

The NIA commenced its probe after visiting the attack site on April 23, just a day after the attack, in support of the Jammu and Kashmir Police. The attack, occurring just ahead of the Amarnath Yatra starting on July 3, has heightened security concerns in the region.

According to authorities, the NIA’s involvement was critical due to the severity of the incident, which marks one of the deadliest assaults on civilians in the region in almost two decades, states an ANI report.

The attack took place at Baisaran, near the popular tourist town of Pahalgam, resulting in the deaths of 26 individuals, including a Nepali citizen, and injuries to several others. As details emerged, the ghastly act was quickly attributed to Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba’s proxy, The Resistance Front (TRF), further fueling concerns over cross-border terrorism.

The NIA's key focus is on collecting forensic evidence from the site, identifying the terrorists responsible, and uncovering the broader nexus involved in the attack. Alongside the investigation, security forces have been ramping up their efforts to dismantle terrorist networks in Jammu and Kashmir.

Intelligence agencies have identified a group of 14 local terrorists, aged between 20 and 40 years, providing logistical support to foreign terrorists, including those from Pakistan, as per the ANI report. These individuals are affiliated with prominent terror groups, including Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Jaish-e-Mohammed.

The list of identified terrorists includes individuals like Adil Rehman Dentoo, the Sopore district commander of LeT, and Asif Ahmed Sheikh, the district commander of JeM in Awantipora. Others in the list are also linked with various Pakistan-backed outfits and have been actively involved in terrorist activities across South Kashmir.

The NIA’s investigation is anticipated to delve deeper into the support system enabling cross-border terrorism. Efforts are being made to track connections between these local operatives and the five terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam attack, which includes three Pakistani nationals.

The authorities have also released sketches of these suspects, and a bounty of Rs 20 lakh has been announced for information leading to their arrest.

Meanwhile, in a related major terror crackdown, security forces have destroyed the homes of two more suspected terrorists in the past 72 hours, bringing the total number of demolished houses to nine.

Among those targeted are Jameel Ahmed Sheer Gojri, a terrorist from Bandipora, and Amir Nazir Wani, a Jaish-e-Mohammed affiliate from Tral. Additionally, the residence of Farooq Ahmad Tadwa, a Pakistani national based in Kupwara, was also bombed by security forces on Saturday evening.

On Saturday, more than 60 locations in Srinagar were raided to seize weapons, documents, and digital devices as part of efforts to prevent further terrorist activities and gather critical intelligence.

The heinous terror attack in Pahalgam's Baisaran Valley has, once again, reignited tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad. The Narendra Modi government acted swiftly, launching a series of diplomatic and security measures aimed at holding Pakistan accountable.