Big update in the Pahalgam attack case. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has had a big success in the Pahalgam terror attack. Two months after the massacre, the NIA clarified that the attack was supported by the locals. On Sunday (June 22), the NIA arrested two terrorists' helpers in Pahalgam, who had helped three Pakistani terrorists with food, shelter and reiki before the attack, the NIA has revealed.
During the interrogation in the Pahalgam attack case, both the accused confessed that the three Pakistani terrorists who killed the tourists belonged to Lashkar-e-Taiba. The interrogation of both is still going on. After examining their mobile phones and other devices, the NIA has found many clues. After the attack, the security agencies suspected that locals were helping in the attack. Kashmir-centric parties also played a lot of politics on it.
Security agencies claimed that five terrorists were involved in the attack, two of whom were locals and one was Pakistani. It was after the Pahalgam attack that India launched Operation Sindoor to destroy terrorist bases in Pakistan.
After the murder investigation was handed over to the NIA, every aspect was thoroughly investigated. The NIA already knew that only a local could help in this case. By connecting every small link, the NIA team reached the helpers. The terrorist aides, Parvez Ahmed Jothad, resident of Batkot, Pahalgam and Bashir Ahmed Jothad, resident of Hillpark, Pahalgam, were arrested from their hideouts.
It is said that both of them were changing their hideouts after the attack. During interrogation, both of them said that before the Pahalgam massacre, they had three army terrorists in a Duhok and had also provided them with rations, water and other equipment. The three terrorists had been hiding in Duhok till sometime before the attack. This is where they had planned the entire massacre. After the attack, the terrorists went to another hideout. Hillpark is about one and a half kilometres from Pahari and Baisaran.
During interrogation, it is also being investigated whether the accomplices of both the terrorists had ever worked for terrorists in the past or whether they were involved in any terrorist activities for the first time.
The accused appear in court
The NIA has arrested both the accused under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. After appearing in court, both will be remanded and information will be sought from them about the conspiracy to attack, their links with terrorist organisations and other aspects of helping terrorists. Along with this, the cooperation and assistance of Pakistani terrorists will also be investigated.
During the interrogation, the NIA seized the mobile phones and other digital devices of the accused and examined them. These devices were found to contain suspicious calls, messages and other information, so that other members of the terrorist network could be identified. Besides, several clues were found about the terrorists' contacts with Pakistan.
Questioning of 250 suspicious elements
The officials concerned said that after the Pahalgam massacre, various security agencies, including the NIA, questioned 250 suspicious elements from the entire valley, including Pahalgam and its surrounding areas. A large number of these were former terrorists and their old helpers. Of these, about 100 elements were arrested under the Public Safety Act. A reward of Rs 20 lakh has been announced for each terrorist involved in the attack. The arrest of two terrorist accomplices is the biggest success in the case so far.
Search for three absconding terrorists underway
The three terrorists who carried out the attack are still absconding. NIA officials believe that the arrest of local aides will now make it easier to track down the terrorists. The agency, along with local security forces, has launched special operations to track down and nab the terrorists. The NIA suspects that the three terrorists are hiding in Kashmir.
NIA tightens security arrangements
To prevent such terrorist attacks in future, the NIA has also taken steps to dismantle the support network of terrorists. For some time now, it has been reported that the security forces have been continuously arresting the aides of the terrorists.
000
