‘Massive Success': How NIA Got Names Of 3 Pakistani Terrorists Who Carried Out Pahalgam Attack
Top NIA officials said they are working on the leads provided by the arrested accused to understand where the three terrorists could be hiding
In a fresh twist to the Baisaran terror case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has revealed that three Pakistani nationals carried out the massacre killing 26 people.
NIA spokesperson said these three are Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists whose names and identity has surfaced for the first time.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police, soon after the attack, had released photos of three suspects, including locals such as Adil Hussain Tokar, a local terrorist from Anantnag in south Kashmir. The two others were Pakistani Hashim Musa and Ali Bhai.
'We have arrested two people and they have revealed that three Pakistani Lashkar terrorists were involved in Baisaran. These three are not the same whose sketches were released," a NIA official said.
The two men arrested by the NIA in this case are accused of harbouring the terrorists who carried out the Baisaran massacre. 'Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from Batkote, Pahalgam and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park, Pahalgam – have disclosed the identities of the three armed terrorists involved in the attack, and have also confirmed that they were Pakistani nationals affiliated to the proscribed terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)," the NIA spokesperson said.
As per the NIA probe, Parvaiz and Bashir had 'knowingly harboured the three armed terrorists at a seasonal dhok (hut) at Hill Park before the attack".
'The two men had provided food, shelter and logistical support to the terrorists, who had, on the fateful afternoon, selectively killed the tourists on the basis of their religious identity, making it one of the most gruesome terrorist attacks ever," the NIA spokesperson said.
This is the first arrest made in the case, one-and-a-half months since the attack. Top NIA officials said they are working on the leads provided by the arrested accused to understand where the three terrorists could be hiding. A massive manhunt was launched based on the sketches released by JK police, but the fresh revelations have led to renewed efforts to identify the absconding Baisaran killers. 'This is a massive success," police officials in Jammu and Kashmir said.
The NIA has arrested Parvez and Bashir under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The agency will seek further custody to question the duo after producing them in court.
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