NIA Chief visits Pahalgam as probe into deadly terror attack killing 26 tourists intensifies

National Investigation Agency (NIA) Director General Sadanand Date on Thursday visited Baisaran Valley in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, the site of the April 22 terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. The visit marked the formal beginning of the NIA's investigation into what has been termed one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in the region in nearly two decades.

The NIA took over the case from Jammu and Kashmir Police five days after the incident. A fresh FIR was registered by the agency on Saturday, following an order from the Ministry of Home Affairs' Counter Terrorism and Counter Radicalisation (CTCR) division. Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba’s proxy, The Resistance Front (TRF), claimed responsibility for the attack. The NIA team has been tasked with assessing the scene, collecting forensic evidence, and identifying those involved.

According to sources, terrorists had conducted reconnaissance of three locations in Pahalgam a week before the attack, including an amusement park, which was reportedly dropped from their plan due to increased security. During the April 22 attack at Baisaran Valley, the attackers used ultra-state communication systems that allowed SIM-less, short-range encrypted messaging, making detection difficult. Investigators are examining whether other terrorists were stationed nearby to provide cover fire.

Sources also stated that terrorists involved in the attack appeared self-sufficient, carrying their own food and supplies. Intelligence agencies have listed 14 local individuals, aged between 20 and 40, suspected of providing logistical and ground-level support to foreign militants from Pakistan. These individuals are reportedly associated with three Pakistan-backed groups — Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Security forces have launched coordinated operations in South Kashmir, especially in Anantnag and Pulwama districts, where many of the 14 individuals are believed to be operating. The Indian Navy and Coast Guard have also increased surveillance in the Arabian Sea and along the Gujarat coast, with warships and vessels on alert for any unusual activity, including recent anti-ship and anti-aircraft firings in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone.