Pahalgam Attack: Two held for hiding Pakistani terrorists
New Delhi:
National Investigation Agency
(NIA) has arrested two men for allegedly harbouring terrorists who carried out the
April 22 attack
in Pahalgam that left 26 civilians dead and 16 others injured.
Officials termed the arrests a "major breakthrough" and said the two individuals had disclosed the identities of three terrorists involved in the attack, confirming that the three are Pakistani nationals and part of the Pakistan-based group
Lashkar-e-Taiba
(LeT).
The duo who allegedly provided shelter to the terrorists have been identified as Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from Batkote, Pahalgam, and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park, Pahalgam. "Parvaiz and Bashir had knowingly harboured the three armed terrorists at a seasonal dhok (hut) at Hill Park before the attack, as per NIA investigations," said one of the officials.
The two men "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 arrested the duo under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. Further investigations in the case are continuing, said officials.
The April 22 attack triggered a military retaliation by India against "
terror infrastructure
" in Pakistan. The Centre said soon after the attack that it had been established that the attack was directed by Pakistan-based handlers and involved Pakistani terrorists who had crossed the Line of Control.
Following the attack, India carried out strikes inside Pakistan at sites including the headquarters of the LeT and the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) at Muridke and Bahawalpur, respectively. The air strikes destroyed key terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan as well as training camps and launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The strikes were carried out under
Operation Sindoor
, which is continuing, according to the government, with more punitive action not ruled out.
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