The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has formally presented its chargesheet in the chilling Pahalgam terror attack case of April 22, naming seven accused entities and individuals. The comprehensive document was filed before the NIA Special Court in Jammu on Monday.
Key Accused and Pakistani Handlers Named
The voluminous 1,597-page chargesheet implicates the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its offshoot, The Resistance Front (TRF), as legal entities. The agency accuses them of orchestrating the planning, facilitation, and execution of the assault.
Among the named individuals is Pakistani handler Sajid Jatt. The chargesheet also lists three Pakistani terrorists who were neutralized by security forces during Operation Mahadev in Dachigam, Srinagar, in July. They have been identified as Faisal Jatt alias Suleman Shah, Habeeb Tahir alias Jibran, and Hamza Afghani.
Arrests and Harbouring Revealed
This legal action follows the arrest of two individuals nearly seven months ago for their role in sheltering the attackers. Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar were taken into custody after investigations revealed they had knowingly provided refuge to the three armed terrorists prior to the attack.
According to the NIA, the duo disclosed the identities of the terrorists and confirmed they were Pakistani nationals affiliated with the banned LeT.
The Pahalgam Attack and India's Military Response
The tragic incident occurred on April 22 in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley, where heavily armed terrorists opened fire, killing 26 civilians. All the victims were men, including a local resident and a tourist from Nepal.
In response, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, conducting airstrikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This military action triggered intense cross-border clashes, which subsided after Islamabad sought a ceasefire on May 10.
The filing of this chargesheet marks a significant step in the legal process against those responsible for the heinous attack, underscoring the continued efforts of Indian agencies to combat cross-border terrorism.
