New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has assumed control of the Pahalgam terror attack case from the Jammu and Kashmir Police and has initiated its investigation into the tragic incident that claimed the lives of 26 tourists. The central anti-terror agency officially filed a new FIR late Saturday, following directives from the Counter Terrorism and Counter Radicalisation (CTCR) division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, given the seriousness of the situation, as the Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, has taken responsibility for the attack.
The NIA took charge of the case five days post-incident and four days after its team visited the attack site to assist the Jammu and Kashmir Police in investigating what is regarded as the most lethal assault on civilians in the region in nearly two decades. Led by a Deputy Inspector General, the NIA team visited Baisaran on April 23, the day following the attack. This investigation is crucial, as the April 22 incident resulted in the deaths of 26 tourists, including one from Nepal, and left over thirty others injured.
The attack occurred around 2 PM at Baisaran meadow, close to the well-known tourist destination of Pahalgam. The NIA team is anticipated to perform a comprehensive evaluation of the attack site, gather forensic evidence, and assist in identifying those accountable for the tragedy. Authorities have deployed a helicopter to facilitate the evacuation of the injured. This attack coincides with a notable increase in tourist arrivals in Kashmir after years of violence, with the 38-day Amarnath Yatra scheduled to begin on July 3. The NIA’s actions come as intelligence agencies compile a list of 14 local terrorists who are actively operating in the Union Territory. Sources indicate that these individuals, aged between 20 and 40, are providing logistical and ground support to foreign terrorists from Pakistan.
Sources have disclosed the identities of the following individuals: Adil Rehman Dentoo (21), Asif Ahmed Sheikh (28), Ahsan Ahmed Sheikh (23), Haris Nazir (20), Aamir Nazir Wani (20), Yawar Ahmed Bhat, Asif Ahmed Khanday (24), Naseer Ahmed Wani (21), Shahid Ahmed Kutay (27), Aamir Ahmed Dar, Adnan Safi Dar, Zubair Ahmed Wani (39), Haroon Rashid Ganai (32), and Zakir Ahmed Ganie (29).
Dentoo has been affiliated with LeT since 2021 and currently serves as the Sopore district commander for the banned organization. Asif Ahmed Sheikh, a member of JeM, holds the position of district commander in Awantipora and has been engaged in terrorist activities since 2022. Ahsan Ahmed Sheikh is involved with LeT in Pulwama and has been active in terrorist operations since 2023. Haris Nazir, also from Pulwama, has been associated with LeT since 2023, while Aamir Nazir Wani has been linked to JeM in Pulwama since 2024. Yawar Ahmed Bhat is fully operational in Pulwama and has been connected with JeM since 2024.
Asif Ahmed Khanday, a terrorist from Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir, joined Hizbul Mujahideen in July 2015 and is currently an active participant in the group, supporting Pakistani terrorists. Naseer Ahmed Wani has been involved in terrorist activities in Shopian since 2019 as an active member of LeT, significantly aiding Pakistani terrorists. Shahid Ahmed Kutay, another active terrorist in Shopian, has been associated with LeT and its proxy group, The Resistance Front (TRF), since 2023. Aamir Ahmed Dar has been active in Shopian since 2023, working with LeT and playing a crucial role as an aide to foreign terrorists. Adnan Safi Dar, another active terrorist from Shopian, has been collaborating with LeT and TRF since 2024, serving as a conduit for information from Pakistani handlers to terrorists.
Zubair Ahmed Wani, also known as Abu Ubaida or Usman, serves as the Chief Operational Commander for Hizbul Mujahideen in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir. He is classified as an A+ active terrorist, providing substantial support to other militants and has been linked to numerous attacks on security forces since 2018. Haroon Rashid Ganai, another active terrorist from Hizbul Mujahideen in Anantnag, is currently being pursued by security forces. He previously traveled to Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) for training in 2018 and has reportedly returned to South Kashmir recently.
Additionally, Zubair Ahmed Gani, a prominent terrorist from Kulgam district associated with LeT, is actively involved in assaults on security forces and targeted killings. The identification of these local terror affiliates comes as agencies ramp up efforts to dismantle the support networks that enable cross-border terrorism.
Security forces have initiated coordinated operations throughout South Kashmir, especially in Anantnag and Pulwama districts, where many of the identified individuals are believed to be operating. Senior officials have indicated that these names are part of a broader intelligence dossier aimed at preventing further attacks and disrupting terror logistics in the Valley.
Agencies are working to establish connections between these 14 terrorists and the five individuals implicated in a recent attack. The release of the list of these 14 active local terrorists follows the identification of five terrorists involved in a deadly attack, including three Pakistani nationals. Authorities had previously released sketches of these Pakistani terrorists: Asif Fauji, Suleman Shah, and Abu Talha. The other two operatives from the Valley were identified as Adil Guri and Ahsan, with a bounty of Rs 20 lakh placed on each.
