Duo held for hosting terrorists didn’t visit Pak: Prelim probe

The two persons arrested by NIA for harbouring terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack haven’t visited or got trained in Pakistan, sources privy to investigations in the case have said. According to the initial probe conducted by the NIA, the two persons — Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from Batkote, Pahalgam, and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park, Pahalgam who were arrested on June 22 — have not been to Pakistan for any kind of arms training in the past and are locals of Pahalgam.

The duo, which was on Monday sent to five-day police custody by a special NIA court in Jammu, is likely to be taken around Baisaran valley to establish the chain of events which had led to the attack, sources aware of developments told The Tribune.

The two men are learnt to have disclosed the identities of the three armed terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack and have also confirmed that they were Pakistani nationals affiliated to the proscribed terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).

Parvaiz and Bashir had knowingly harboured the three armed terrorists at a seasonal ‘dhok’ (hut) at Hill Park before the attack, as per NIA investigations.

The two men had provided food, shelter and logistical support to the terrorists, apparently for a paltry amount of a few thousands of rupees, sources informed further.

The terrorist had, on the fateful afternoon, selectively killed the tourists on the basis of their religious identity, making it one of the most gruesome terrorist attacks ever.

NIA, which had arrested the duo under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, is further investigating the case which was registered after the attack that shook the world on April 22.

Though the J&K Police had released sketches of three terrorists suspected to have been involved in the attack a day after the incident, the actual number of terrorists is still not known.

Therefore, the arrest of these two men is likely to provide a significant breakthrough to NIA regarding the actual number of the terrorists involved in the attack.

The anti-terror agency has gathered a substantial body of evidence regarding the identities of the terrorists. This includes eyewitness accounts from victims, video footages, technical evidence and the sketches released by the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

All this evidence is being carefully analysed and NIA has not reached any conclusions at this stage, sources informed further.

NIA sources said that all aspects of the terror attack are being thoroughly examined and the identities and further details of the terrorists would be made public at an appropriate time.