Sanjay Pandita
Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 4: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has retrieved Aadhaar cards, photographs, and Facebook account details of multiple individuals from mobile phones belonging to three Pakistani terrorists responsible for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, according to officials familiar with the investigation. The discovery comes as the agency continues to seek extensions for filing a charge sheet in the case.
The three terrorists—Suleiman Shah, Hamza Afghani (alias Afghan), and Jibran—who gunned down 25 tourists and a pony operator at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam on April 22, were killed by security forces during an encounter in the Dachigam forest area on July 28. Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed in Parliament on July 29 that the terrorists were Pakistani nationals affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
Two Pahalgam residents, Bashir Ahmad Jothar and Parvez Ahmad Jothar, were arrested on June 22—nearly two months after the attack—for allegedly sheltering the three terrorists at a seasonal dhok (hut) at Hill Park on April 21, a day before the massacre.
On October 31, a Jammu court granted the federal agency a second 45-day extension to complete its investigation. Under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, suspects can be held in custody for 90 days, with courts authorized to grant extensions of up to 180 days if sufficient cause is demonstrated. The NIA received its first 45-day extension on September 18.
“We are working with experts to decrypt end-to-end encrypted communications between the three terrorists and their handler in Pakistan, who we believe primarily orchestrated and supervised the terror strike,”, a national newspaper quoting official sources reported.
Deciphering these communications requires additional time, the officer noted, explaining why the agency needs at least another 45 days before filing a charge sheet. Further analysis of recovered materials is expected to reveal the involvement of other LeT and The Resistance Front (TRF) operatives in the attack.
Security forces recovered two mobile phones, a satellite phone, one M4 carbine, two AK-47 rifles, and Pakistani identity documents from the encounter site. These items were sent for forensic and digital analysis to identify Pakistan-based facilitators, LeT and TRF operatives in the Valley, and other crucial details.
"The National Forensic Science University (NFSU) in Gandhinagar recently shared its digital analysis report of the terrorists' mobile phones, which reveals incriminating evidence against Bashir and Parvez Jothar, as well as certain Aadhaar cards, Facebook IDs, and photographs that are under further investigation," said an officer requesting anonymity.
Officials indicated the agency is also awaiting reports on devices seized by Jammu and Kashmir police during various anti-terror operations targeting TRF—a LeT proxy implicated in the Pahalgam attack.
Additionally, the NIA is recording statements from tourists who witnessed the attack, testimony considered vital for establishing a comprehensive timeline of events on that day. |
