The NIA is set to file a charge sheet today concerning the Pahalgam terror attack. This charge sheet is being prepared for submission in the special NIA court in Jammu, detailing the brutal incident that shook Basran Valley on April 22, 2025. In this ruthless attack, victims were reportedly singled out based on religion, resulting in the tragic loss of 25 tourists and a pony guide. The charge sheet will name three local suspects.
The investigation conducted by NIA has unearthed involvement of Pakistan's terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba along with its local ally, The Resistance Front (TRF).
Names such as Bashir Ahmed Jothar, Parvez Ahmed Jothar, and Mohammad Yusuf Katari will be included in the charge sheet as local collaborators who aided three Pakistani terrorists.
How the Terrorists Received Assistance...
The investigation revealed that residents Bashir and Parvez Jothar provided refuge to the terrorists at a local hut in Hill Park region on the night of April 21. These two brothers were apprehended on June 22, nearly two months post-attack. As per NIA sources, phone records showed connections to Pakistani numbers, crucial in linking the network.
Inquiry and Search Operations...
The day following the incident, security forces launched an extensive search operation. On July 28, the three Pakistani terrorists—Sulaiman Shah, Hamza Afghani alias Afghan, and Jibran—were neutralized in Dachigam forests. More than a thousand interrogations have been conducted involving tourists, pony operators, photographers, and shopkeepers. Forensic analysis of seized devices was carried out at the National Forensic Science University in Gandhinagar.
Operation Sindoor and Moving Forward
Following the Pahalgam terror incident, India launched a vast military operation termed 'Operation Sindoor' on May 7. The Indian Air Force conducted pre-dawn air strikes targeting nine terrorist sites across Pakistan and POK, reportedly neutralizing approximately 100 terrorists. The charge sheet aims to provide a comprehensive expose of the terrorist network, involving both the terrorists and their local helpers, along with Lashkar-e-Taiba's network. In September, the NIA requested an additional 45 days from the Jammu court to complete its investigation.
