NIA Files Charges in Pahalgam Terror Attack Naming Pakistani Handler

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has submitted a comprehensive chargesheet in connection with the Pahalgam terror attack that occurred on April 22. The document, comprising 1,597 pages, implicates seven individuals, including a Pakistani handler and members of the terrorist organisations Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and The Resistance Front (TRF).

The chargesheet was presented to the NIA Special Court in Jammu. Among those named is Sajid Jatt, a Pakistani national, identified as the handler for the attack. The chargesheet also details the involvement of three Pakistani terrorists who were killed by security forces during Operation Mahadev in July in the Dachigam area of Srinagar. These individuals have been identified as Faisal Jatt, also known as Suleman Shah, Habeeb Tahir, referred to as Jibran, and Hamza Afghani.

The document formally charges the banned organisations Lashkar-e-Taiba and The Resistance Front with planning, facilitating, and executing the attack. It also invokes legal provisions against those accused of waging war against India.

This development follows the arrests of two local men, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar, who were taken into custody on June 22 for allegedly harbouring the attackers. During their questioning, they reportedly disclosed that the assailants were Pakistani nationals linked to the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Details of the Pahalgam Attack

On April 22, three armed assailants opened fire in Baisaran Valley, Pahalgam, resulting in the deaths of 26 individuals, including a local resident and a tourist from Nepal. The incident raised significant security concerns and drew national attention.

In response to the attack, Indian authorities launched a series of diplomatic measures, culminating in Operation Sindoor. This operation involved airstrikes targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7. Following these strikes, intense cross-border clashes ensued, which were eventually halted after Pakistan requested a ceasefire on May 10.

The NIA's investigation continues as it aims to dismantle the networks linked to terrorism in the region, with a focus on addressing the threats posed by external handlers and their local collaborators. This case highlights the ongoing security challenges faced by India in combating terrorism and maintaining public safety.