NIA secures 10-day remand for two accused in Pahalgam terror attack

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday secured an additional 10-day remand for two individuals, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar, who are accused of harbouring Pakistani terrorists responsible for the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in April. The special NIA Court in Jammu granted the extension after the expiry of their previous 10-day remand, allowing the anti-terror agency to further its investigation into the gruesome incident.

Parvaiz and Bashir Jothar were initially arrested on June 22 and had been in NIA custody since, with an initial five-day remand followed by a subsequent extension. According to the NIA, the two accused have disclosed crucial information, including the identities of the three armed terrorists involved in the attack. They have confirmed that these terrorists were Pakistani nationals and affiliated with the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit.

The federal agency has alleged that Parvaiz and Bashir knowingly provided shelter, food, and logistical support to the LeT terrorists at a seasonal 'dhok' (hut) in Hill Park, Pahalgam, prior to the April 22 attack. The terrorists, on that fateful afternoon, selectively targeted and killed 26 people, mostly tourists, and injured 16 others, making it one of the most brutal terror incidents in recent memory. The NIA continues its intensive probe to unravel the full extent of the terror network behind the massacre in Kashmir's popular tourist hub.