Pahalgam Terror Attack: NIA Arrests Two for Aiding Attackers with Shelter and Supplies

Two individuals from south Kashmir have been arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for allegedly providing sanctuary to the Pakistani terrorists responsible for the April 22 terror assault in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 people, including 25 tourists. Since the attack, which greatly increased tensions between India and Pakistan, the arrests represent the first substantial development in the case.
According to officials, the two accused—Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar of Batkote and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park, both residents of Pahalgam—admitted to providing food, shelter, and logistical support to the three Pakistani nationals affiliated with the banned terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
“This is a significant development in the Pahalgam terror attack case. The NIA has arrested two individuals for harbouring the terrorists who carried out the brutal assault that claimed the lives of 26 innocent people and left 16 others seriously injured,” the agency said in a statement on Sunday.
The attack took place in the scenic Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam, where terrorists opened fire on tourists in what investigators have described as a targeted assault based on religious identity. Security agencies confirmed that the assailants were Pakistani nationals, and the attack was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy outfit of LeT.
In response, India launched "Operation Sindoor" on May 7, targeting nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation led to an exchange of drone and missile strikes between the two nations until a ceasefire was declared on May 10.
The NIA revealed that Parvaiz and Bashir had knowingly sheltered the terrorists at a seasonal hut (known locally as a "dhok") in Hill Park prior to the attack. “They provided food, shelter, and logistical aid to the armed terrorists, who went on to commit one of the most horrifying attacks in recent memory,” the agency said.
After the incident, the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a massive manhunt across the forests of south Kashmir and the Kishtwar region. Authorities announced a ₹20 lakh reward for information on the attackers. Over 2,000 people were detained for questioning, with many later released and others booked under the stringent Public Safety Act.
Investigations identified three terrorists involved: Adil Hussain Thoker (a local), and two Pakistani nationals—Hashim Musa, alias Suleiman, and Ali Bhai, alias Talha Bhai—both said to have been active in south Kashmir for the past one to two years.
The arrested men have been charged under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and the case has been registered as RC-02/2025/NIA/JMU. The NIA has stated that further investigations are ongoing.