NIA chief visits Pahalgam to review probe into deadly terror attack

National Investigation Agency chief Sadanand Date visited Pahalgam in South Kashmir on Thursday to oversee the ongoing investigation into the April 22 deadly terror attack that claimed the lives of 25 tourists and one local.

Multiple teams from the agency have already visited the Baisaran meadow—an area near Pahalgam that is accessible only on foot—where the terror attack occurred.

A senior official said that the NIA DG’s visit to Pahalgam is part of the ongoing investigation, during which he will review the situation on the ground.

Sources said Date will be briefed on the progress made so far in the probe. Senior NIA officers are already involved in the investigation, which is said to be progressing swiftly.

The agency has already recorded statements of eyewitnesses and others who were present in the vicinity when the April 22 attack occurred, they added.

Among those questioned are ponywalas who were in the vicinity at the time of the attack. The head of the Ponywala Association was among the first responders to reach the attack site when the incident occurred.

In the wake of the attack, large-scale anti-terror operations have been launched across South Kashmir to track down the assailants.

The J&K Police have released sketches and identified the suspected assailants—two Pakistani nationals and one local militant linked to the Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group. The suspects have been named as Adil Hussain Thokar from Anantnag, and Pakistani nationals Ali Bahi alias Talha Bahi, and Hashim Musa alias Suleman.

Authorities have detained over 2,000 individuals across the Valley for questioning as part of the investigation.

J & K