Terrorists entered Pahalgam's Baisaran Valley on April 15, recced 3 other spots: NIA probe

Terrorists involved in the devastating Pahalgam attack recced three other spots for the ambush before picking the Baisaran Valley, a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has revealed. A week after the attack, investigators found that the terrorists were living in the tourist destination in Kashmir two days before they conducted the attack.

According to the information obtained by News18, the agency found that the terrorists’ plan to attack the three other spots, the Aru Valley, an amusement park, and the Betab Valley, was foiled due to the presence of security forces in the area. The heinous terror attack in the Baisaran Valley led to the death of 26 tourists and caused a row between India and Pakistan. 

A source close to the matter told News18 that the terrorists had been present in the Baisaran Valley two days before the attack on April 22. It was also learned that four overground workers (OGW) had helped the terrorists recce the spots.

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Before the revelation of the involvement of OGWs, the authorities recognised 20 OGWs, with some of them arrested in the case. Apart from this, a total of 186 people have been taken into custody and are currently being interrogated by NIA authorities in connection with the attack.

The attack sent shock waves in India, prompting authorities to take stringent measures. As NIA investigates the case, local authorities have demolished several houses that they claimed were linked to terrorists or those who facilitated them.

The wives and other relatives of those killed in the attack later told the media that the terrorists asked for the names and faith of the tourists before shooting them dead. One survivor also claimed that the terrorists asked those who said they belonged to the Muslim community to recite the Kalma.

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The survivors said that the terrorists killed Hindus and asked women to narrate what happened to their loved ones to the government. The Resistance Force initially claimed responsibility for the attack but quickly backtracked. It is pertinent to note that TRF is an offshoot branch of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a terrorist group based in Pakistan. The hunt for the perpetrators of the attack is underway.

With inputs from agencies.