Pahalgam Attack: NIA Arrests Two For Harbouring Terrorists, Opposition Questions 'Lapses in Probe'

New Delhi: Two months after the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians were killed, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said on Monday (June 23) that the two men who were arrested for harbouring the terrorists behind the attack “have disclosed details about the identities of the three armed terrorists involved.”

Earlier The Indian Express had reported citing sources in the NIA that the sketches of three men released by Jammu and Kashmir police after the attack were not of those behind the attack. The report was then cited by the opposition Congress questioning the Narendra Modi-led central government of major lapses in the probe as well as releasing the sketches hastily.

In its statement, the NIA however said that some media reports about the sketches were “speculative” and “misleading in nature” and the agency has not reached any conclusions at this stage.

"It is seen that some media coverage is speculative and therefore of misleading nature. Such reports circulating in sections of the media and on social media platforms are regarding the sketches and identities of the terrorists involved in the terror attack at Pahalgam," the NIA statement said.

The NIA said that "as stated in the official press release dated 22 June 2025, two accused persons have been arrested in connection with the attack. During their interrogation, they have disclosed details about the identities of the three armed terrorists involved."

The agency also said that it has gathered a substantial body of evidence regarding the identities of the terrorists including eyewitness accounts, video footage and technical evidence and the sketches released by the Jammu and Kashmir police.

"All this evidence is being carefully analysed and NIA has not reached any conclusion at this stage."

On Sunday (June 22) the NIA had announced the arrest of Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from Batkote, Pahalgam and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park, Pahalgam. The NIA said that the two have "disclosed the identities of three armed terrorists involved in the attack and have also confirmed that they were Pakistani nationals affiliated to the proscribed terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)."

An accused who was arrested by the NIA for allegedly harbouring terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam terror attack is being produced before a court, in Jammu on Monday, June 23, 2025. Photo: PTI

According to the NIA, the two had harboured the three armed terrorists in a hut in Hill Park before the attack and provided food, shelter, and logistical support to them.

'It's been two months since the Pahalgam attack, and the nation is still demanding answers'

On Monday, the Congress questioned the BJP-led central government of a major lapse in the Pahalgam terror attack probe and accused it of having "hastily released sketches of three alleged terrorists."

“In fact, the sketches were reportedly based on a photo recovered from the phone of a terrorist named Junaid, who was killed on 4 December 2024 – months before the attack even occurred. This raises serious questions,” the party said.

The party asked five questions including why such negligence in investigating a brutal terrorist attack, if the sketches were fake and part of a “headline management strategy by the Modi government” and how were the sketches released without proper verification.

“Most importantly – Who were the real attackers? Where are they now? And why haven’t they been brought to justice even after two months? It's been two months since the Pahalgam attack, and the nation is still demanding answers,” the Congress said.

The Trinamool Congress on Monday also accused the Modi government of providing no answers 62 days after the attack in which 26 civilians were killed.

“Are these lives meaningless to you? The nation will not forget this abandonment,” said the TMC addressing the BJP on X.

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