Following Pakistan-backed massacre of 26 civilians, NIA intensifies nationwide hunt to dismantle terror networks in Jammu and Kashmir.
New Delhi [India], April 27:
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has officially taken over the probe into the Pahalgam terror attack from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, top sources confirmed on Saturday. The deadly attack, which killed 26 tourists including one Nepali citizen, is now under full central investigation as authorities vow decisive action.
A fresh FIR was registered late Saturday night by the NIA, following an order from the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Counter Terrorism and Counter Radicalisation (CTCR) division. The takeover comes after The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the April 22 carnage at Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam.
NIA officials, led by a Deputy Inspector General (DIG)-rank officer, had already visited the site on April 23 to assist local authorities. With the formal takeover, a deeper forensic examination and expanded manhunt are underway to track those responsible.
“This is the deadliest civilian assault in Kashmir in two decades,” an official said, emphasizing the gravity of the investigation.
The NIA’s move coincides with an intelligence crackdown on 14 local terror operatives believed to be aiding Pakistani terrorists. These individuals, aged between 20 and 40 years, are affiliated with Pakistan-backed groups like Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Among the identified key operatives are Zubair Ahmed Wani, the Hizbul Mujahideen’s chief operational commander in Anantnag, and Adil Rehman Dentoo, Sopore’s LeT district commander. Several others have ties to terror attacks and logistical support operations stretching back to 2015.
Meanwhile, investigators have linked five key terrorists — including three Pakistanis — directly to the Pahalgam attack. Their sketches — Asif Fauji, Suleman Shah, and Abu Talha — have been released, with a bounty of ₹20 lakh each announced. Two Valley-based operatives, Adil Guri and Ahsan, have also been identified.
Security forces are now conducting synchronized operations across South Kashmir, especially in Anantnag and Pulwama districts, aiming to dismantle the terror infrastructure that allowed the attack to take place.
A senior official remarked, “No terrorist will be spared. Every network, every safe house, and every operative aiding cross-border terror will be neutralized.”
The assault on Pahalgam comes at a critical time, with Kashmir witnessing a surge in tourism and preparations for the annual Amarnath Yatra, set to begin on July 3.