Pahalgam attack: Two locals helped Pakistani attackers for a few thousands
NEW DELHI: The two Kashmiris arrested by
National Investigation Agency
(NIA) on Sunday not only harboured the three Pahalgam attackers for two days in their 'dhok' (hut) in Hill Area, located around 2 km from Baisaran, before the latter headed out to massacre 26 civilians but also tipped them off on the deployment of security personnel in and around the attack site "in return for a few thousand rupees".
Sources aware of NIA probe told TOI that three
Pakistani terrorists
affiliated to Lashkar were sheltered by accused Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar in the seasonal 'dhok' on April 20 and 21, immediately preceding the fateful day. NIA had said on Sunday the accused "knowingly provided the Pakistani terrorists food, shelter & other logistical support".
On Monday, Parvaiz and Bashir were produced before the NIA court in Jammu, which remanded them to NIA custody for five days.
The agency said though the accused had disclosed the identities of the three attackers, it was carefully analysing a "large body of evidence" gathered, including eyewitness accounts, video footage, technical evidence and sketches released by J&K police. "NIA has not reached any conclusions.
.. the identities and further details of the terrorists will be made public at an appropriate time," the agency said.
A source told TOI that Parvaiz and Bashir were not just passive supporters but active facilitators in the April 22 terror act involving the gunning down of 25 tourists based on their religious identity.
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"They studied the area domination exercises undertaken from time to time and the pattern of security deployment at the attack site in Baisaran, and shared the report or findings with the Pakistani terrorists, helping them plan their approach to the attack site, the actual massacre as well as the subsequent escape," an officer told TOI.
"The accused were fully aware of the plans to hit tourists since Baisaran was teeming with visitors at the time.
Since they were also operating pony rides in the area, they were fully aware of the police/security pickets at the attack site, the gap between consecutive area domination exercises and the pattern of deployment of troops at the site. Despite being aware of the terrorists' intentions, they willingly shared these details, making themselves active participants in the Pahalgam terror attack conspiracy," a source said.
When confronted by NIA, Parvaiz and Bashir claimed that though they knew of plans to unleash a terror strike, they had no idea that tourists in Baisaran were the target. This explanation, however, has few takers. The accused admitted to having facilitated the terrorists in snuffing out 26 innocent lives in lieu of "chand hazaar rupaiye".
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