Jammu, Jun 27, 2025 : A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Friday granted a 10-day remand of two accused arrested for allegedly harbouring Pakistani terrorists involved in the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people in April, officials said.
The fresh remand follows the expiry of an earlier five-day custody granted on Monday. The accused—Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar of Batkote and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park, Pahalgam—were arrested by the NIA last Sunday in what officials described as the first major breakthrough in the investigation.
According to the NIA, both men confessed to providing shelter, food, and logistical support to three armed Pakistani terrorists affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) at a seasonal dhok (hut) in Hill Park, days before the April 22 attack.
The agency revealed that the attackers deliberately targeted tourists based on religious identity, making the assault one of the most heinous terror strikes in recent memory. The attack claimed 26 lives—mostly tourists—and left 16 others injured.
The NIA stated that the accused helped confirm the identities of the terrorists and their foreign links. The investigation into the broader terrorist network behind the Pahalgam attack is ongoing.
