Pahalgam: An eyewitness to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam has provided investigators with new crucial details, revealing that the gunmen fired celebratory rounds into the air after killing 26 civilians. According to information, the witness described how he was confronted by the three armed assailants in the Baisaran meadows, believed to be Pakistani nationals, shortly after the massacre.
The individual, now being referred to as the “star protected eyewitness”, was located with the assistance of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Jammu and Kashmir Police, and central intelligence units. He told officials that the attackers stopped him and demanded he recite the kalma, an Islamic declaration of faith. Upon hearing his local accent, the gunmen let him go, firing four rounds into the air as they departed the scene.
Investigators later recovered four spent cartridges from the area based on the witness’s account. He also reportedly saw two local men, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad, near a hilltop, appearing to guard the attackers’ belongings, which were later retrieved by the terrorists.
Both Parvaiz and Bashir were arrested by the NIA last month for allegedly sheltering the militants. According to an NIA spokesperson, the duo confirmed that the attackers were affiliated with the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba group.
As the probe continued, further details emerged from the questioning of the two arrested locals. Sources revealed that on the eve of the attack, the three terrorists visited Parvaiz’s home around 3:30 p.m., armed and asking for food. His wife reportedly served them a meal, after which they spent several hours asking about tourist activity, security presence, and routes in the area. Before leaving, they requested supplies, including rice and spices, and gave the family Rs 2,500.
The attackers later met Bashir and instructed both men to be at Baisaran around 12:30 p.m. on the day of the attack. They then moved toward a temporary shelter in Hill Park, investigators said. Sources have identified one of the attackers as Suleiman Shah, who is suspected of involvement in a previous attack that left seven workers dead at the Z-Morh tunnel project on the Srinagar-Sonamarg highway in October last year.
The investigation is ongoing, with security forces reportedly narrowing in on the remaining suspects with help from both intelligence inputs and local cooperation.