National Investigative Agency (NIA) arrested two locals from Pahalgam for ‘sheltering’ attackers involved in the terrorism incident. Upon investigation, NIA concluded that all three terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack were from Pakistan.
Two days after the April 22 attack on Pahalgam, police released three sketches - Pakistani nationals Hashim Musa and Ali Bhai alias Talha, and Kashmir local Adil Hussain Thoker as suspects. Sources in NIA now say these three men are not the actual terrorists involved in the Pahalgam Attack as reported by The Indian Express.
Adil Hussain Thoker's house was demolished on April 24 by the Jammu and Kashmir Administration allegedly on suspicion of his involvement in the Pahalgam Attacks. His family home in the neighbouring Bijbehara area was also demolished on April 25. Wanted posters where released by authorities based on these three sketches. Atleast 10 other houses of suspected 'active' terrorists associated with Hizbul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Muhammad, and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Kashmir were demolished. Now however, the suspect list has changed upon NIA investigations.
The two local men arrested were Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from Batkote and Bashir Ahmad Jothar from the Hill Park areas of Pahalgam. According to the NIA, the terrorists visited the homes of these two men and took food from them. “During questioning, they 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-Toiba,” a NIA spokesperson said.
As reported by The Indian Express, sources said one of the Pahalgam attackers is believed to be Suleiman Shah, who was earlier involved in the killing of seven employees of a firm constructing the Z-Morh tunnel on the Srinagar-Sonamarg highway on October 20, 2024. His co-accused from the October attack, Junaid Ramzan Bhat, was killed on December 4, 2024 in a gunfight with the J&K police.
Police had recovered several photos from Junaid’s phone. One photograph where Junaid was seen with three other militants went viral shortly after the Pahalgam attacks. According to sources of The Indian Express, this photo was the basis for the sketches that were earlier made on suspecting terrorists of Pahalgam.
During the Investigation, NIA and central agencies showed different pictures that were recovered from Junaid’s phone to the arrested locals; they recognised the men who had visited them two days prior to the attacks in Pahalgam. “The fresh pictures were also shown to several witnesses, and they too confirmed their presence at the crime scene. All three are Pakistani nationals, including the Z-Morh terror accused Suleman Shah,” said a source to the Indian Express.
“As per the probe, Parvaiz and Bashir 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.” according to a NIA spokesperson. The two men were arrested under section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. “Parvaiz had a common friend with a pony operator, and their wives shared details of the visitor at their house,” said a source to The Indian Express.
Before arresting these two locals for allegedly sheltering the attackers, NIA had questioned more than 200 people, including pony operators, shopkeepers and photographers. Investigators are also looking into whether Suleman was involved in past terrorist activities and attacks on Indian Defence forces.
Three Army Personnel were killed in August 2023 in South Kashmir’s Kulgam, and in May 2024 one Air Force Personnel was killed and four others were injured in the Poonch District of Jammu, agencies are investigating the possible involvement of Suleman in these attacks.
