ATUL SHARMA
Early Times Report
Jammu, July 16: Two brothers from south Kashmir, arrested last month in connection with the deadly April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, are alleged to have willingly provided shelter and logistical support to Pakistani terrorists who massacred 26 unarmed civilians at Baisaran Valley.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the case, arrested the accused Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar, a resident of Batkote, and Bashir Ahmad Jothar, of Hill Park, both localities in the
Pahalgam area — on June 22 for allegedly harbouring the foreign militants responsible for the carnage.
According to the NIA, the two accused not only offered refuge at a seasonal dhok (hut) in Hill Park but also supplied food, shelter, and logistics to three heavily armed Pakistani terrorists affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
“These terrorists, on April 22, carried out one of the most gruesome targeted killings in recent memory by selectively murdering tourists based on their religious identity,” the NIA stated.
The brothers have been arrested under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. During interrogation, they reportedly revealed the identities of the three foreign terrorists involved, confirming their Pakistani origin and LeT affiliation.
The case took a significant turn after a key eyewitness, who survived the attack, provided chilling details. According to sources, the survivor was stopped by the gunmen and asked to recite the Kalma. Upon speaking in a local Kashmiri accent, he was spared. The militants then fired four celebratory rounds into the air before fleeing the scene.
Crucially, the same eyewitness told investigators that he spotted Parvaiz and Bashir standing near a hill, allegedly guarding the belongings of the terrorists, which were later collected by the attackers before escaping.
Security agencies suspect the involvement of four terrorists in the April 22 attack — three Pakistanis, identified as Hashim Musa alias Suleiman, Ali Bhai alias Talha Bhai, and Asif Fauji, along with Abid Hussain Thoker, a local resident of Anantnag.
Further investigations by the NIA are underway. |
