Pahalgam: The National Investigation Agency is scheduled to submit its charge sheet on Monday in connection with the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 people, most of them tourists, officials familiar with the case said.
The charge sheet will be placed before a special NIA court in Jammu, marking a major step in the probe into the April 22 attack, which authorities say was orchestrated by militants operating from Pakistan.
Investigators have concluded that three terrorists directly carried out the assault. All three were later neutralised by security forces in a joint operation conducted in July.
As part of the investigation, the NIA arrested two local residents in June on charges of providing assistance to the attackers. The accused were identified as Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar of Batkote and Bashir Ahmad Jothar from Pahalgam. According to the agency, the two men admitted to giving shelter, food and logistical help to the militants.
During questioning, the arrested suspects revealed that the attackers were Pakistani nationals linked to the banned terror organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba. Officials said this information helped security agencies trace the movement and hideouts of the militants after the attack.
The three terrorists were killed on July 28 in an encounter on the outskirts of Srinagar during an operation codenamed “Operation Mahadev.” Investigators said the militants had been moving through the Dachigam-Harwan forest area while evading security forces since the Pahalgam attack.
Authorities said the filing of the charge sheet reflects the progress made in the case and reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing all those involved in planning, executing or supporting acts of terrorism in the region.
