New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday said that terrorists targeted the scenic Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, due to its high tourist footfall and relative isolation.
NIA officials confirmed that three terrorists carried out the brutal attack on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 people. A spokesman noted that the location was also chosen because the security forces’ response would take time.
The attackers specifically targeted male tourists enjoying the meadow—whether at eateries, on pony rides, or picnicking with families, including young children—at the site famously called ‘Mini Switzerland’ for its tranquil beauty.
In June, the NIA arrested Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from Batkote and Bashir Ahmad Jothar from Pahalgam for providing shelter and logistical support to the three Pakistan-based terrorists. The arrested men revealed that the attackers were Pakistani nationals affiliated with the proscribed group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
The three terrorists were killed in a July 28 encounter, Operation Mahadev, on the outskirts of Srinagar, after hiding in the Dachigam-Harwan forest belt since the attack.
In retaliation for the Pahalgam assault, Indian armed forces carried out precision strikes on May 7 against terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor, targeting nine sites, including the headquarters and training centres of LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed, from where attacks on India were planned and coordinated.
