SRINAGAR: NIA Director General Sadanand Date arrived in Pahalgam on Thursday to oversee the investigation into the recent terror attack, ANI reported.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the case from the Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday, following the deadly assault that claimed the lives of 26 tourists.
The agency formally registered a new FIR on Saturday after an order from the Counter Terrorism and Counter Radicalisation division of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Five days after the incident, the NIA began its investigation, following a visit to the site by its team. Officials confirmed that the NIA is now leading the probe. The agency plans to conduct a detailed assessment of the attack site, collect forensic evidence, and identify those responsible.
This move comes as intelligence agencies compile a list of 14 local terrorists operating in the region. These individuals, aged between 20 and 40, are suspected of providing logistical support to foreign terrorists from Pakistan.
ANI reported, the operatives are linked to three major Pakistan-based terror groups: Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Security forces are conducting operations across South Kashmir, especially in Anantnag and Pulwama, to target these individuals and disrupt terror networks
