SRINAGAR: In a major breakthrough in the April 22 Pahalgam massacre case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday announced the arrest of two residents from Pahalgam in south Kashmir for harbouring the three Pakistani terrorists who carried out the massacre that left 26 people dead and 16 others grievously injured.
The arrested men, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar of Batkote and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park, were taken into custody after an extensive investigation, reports appearing in the media said. According to the NIA, the two “knowingly” sheltered the terrorists at a seasonal _dhok (hut) in the Hill Park area, just 3 kilometres from the attack site in Baisaran valley, and provided them with food, shelter, and logistical support.
In a statement, the agency said the accused disclosed that the attackers were Pakistani nationals affiliated with the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit. This is the first formal confirmation of the nationality and affiliation of the gunmen responsible for what authorities have described as one of the most gruesome strikes in recent memory, targeting tourists based on their religious identity.
The arrests have significantly altered the investigative direction of the case. Soon after the attack, Jammu and Kashmir Police had released sketches of three suspects, including two Pakistani nationals, Hashim Musa and Ali Bhai, and one local, Adil Hussain Thoker. However, during questioning, the arrested duo did not identify any of those three as the attackers. Instead, the NIA now believes the actual attackers include a man named Suleman Shah, also known for his role in the Z-Morh tunnel killings last October, in which seven workers were gunned down. Shah’s co-accused in that case, Junaid Ramzan Bhat, was later killed in a police encounter in December.
Investigators recovered photographs from Junaid’s phone showing Shah and three others, which were shown to Parvaiz and Bashir during interrogation. Both recognised the images as those of the men they hosted shortly before the Pahalgam attack. Several independent witnesses also confirmed seeing the same individuals at the crime scene, bolstering the case.
Top intelligence sources revealed to News18 that Parvaiz and Bashir’s wives had inadvertently shared details about the visitors with other villagers, which eventually led to their arrests. While it remains unclear whether the duo knew of the impending attack, they did confirm having served the gunmen tea and food. The attackers reportedly handed them money and warned them to remain silent before disappearing, likely in the direction of Anantnag.
The NIA has booked the two men under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The arrests came after over two thousand locals across Kashmir were questioned in the aftermath of the April killings, and a Rs 20-lakh reward was announced for information.
Following the attack, which drew condemnation from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and led to heightened regional tensions, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7. In the course of the multi-day offensive, Indian forces carried out precision air and missile strikes on nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan.
The NIA continues to investigate the larger network involved, including possible links of Suleman Shah to previous attacks in Kulgam and Poonch. The hunt for the remaining attackers is ongoing, with authorities intensifying efforts to locate their current hideouts.
