Srinagar: Two persons who provided shelter and support to the Pakistani terrorists who carried out the deadly attack on tourists at the Baisaran Meadows in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22 have been arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The two men, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar, from Pahalgam, have disclosed the identities of the three armed terrorists involved in the attack. They also confirmed that the terrorists were Pakistani nationals affiliated with the proscribed terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
NIA has said that Parvaiz and Bashir had knowingly harboured the three armed terrorists at a seasonal hut at Hill Park before the attack. The two men had 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.
The two have been charged under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. further investigation is underway.
Over the last two months, the NIA questioned several local eyewitnesses, including pony walas, about the incident. Nearly 2,000 people were interrogated, officials confirmed. Some of the people questioned were also booked under the Public Safety Act. The Jammu and Kashmir Police also raided the houses of more than 100 terror associates.
The NIA also carried out raids at 32 locations in Kashmir, including in Shopian, Kulgam, Pulwama, Sopore and Kupwara. These were against Overground Workers (OGWs) with links to Pakistan-based terror groups.
The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy outfit of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) had claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack.
