Two mainstream political parties of J&K National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party have hailed the action of NIA in reaching out to two local youth who provided shelter and food to the killers of Pahalgam tourists in April terror attack.
In what can be seen as first political reaction in conflict ridden J&K over such actions against the locals, NC andPDP leadership minced no words in expressing 'satisfaction' over the NIA action. While former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday welcomed the arrests made by the NIA in the gruesome April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Iltija Mufti appealed to the Central government to arrest the perpetrators of the terror attack. SHe said it is important because they are responsible for “crippling” the economy of Jammu and Kashmir and tourism has come to a halt across Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters, Mufti said, “Whatever happened in Pahalgam … is completely condemnable, it was a dastardly attack…Tourism has stopped in Pahalgam, the economy of Jammu and Kashmir has crippled… Because tourism is the backbone of our economy, I appeal to the government to arrest those who carried out this attack as soon as possible, and do some confidence-building measures with the people here.”
A total of 26 civilians, mostly tourists, were killed in a dastardly terrorist attack in Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam valley in Jammu and Kashmir. The National Investigation Agency today said that two men have been arrested for harbouring the terrorists.Abdullah said, “Now we will find out from them who they (terrorists) were and where they came from. If they have caught them correctly, it is a very good thing for us that gradually we will reach those who carried out the Pahalgam attack…”
The NIA said that the two arrested accused, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from Batkote in Pahalgam and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park in Pahalgam, have disclosed the identities of the three armed terrorists involved in the attack, and have also confirmed that they were Pakistani nationals affiliated to the proscribed terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).“Parvaiz and Bashir had knowingly harboured the three armed terrorists at a seasonal dhok (hut) at Hill Park before the attack,” said the NIA, citing its investigations.
“The two men had provided food, shelter and logistical support to the terrorists, who 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 has arrested the two accused under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, is further investigating the case (RC-02/2025/NIA/JMU), registered after the attack that shook the world on April 22, 2025.
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