terrorists-hid-weapons-in-betaab-valley-before-attack-nia

The terrorists who killed 26 people in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam region were in constant touch with their handlers, reportedly sitting across the LoC in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, reports citing the NIA sources said on Friday.

 

The report indicates that they had hidden their weapons in Betaab Valley, according to the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) preliminary probe.

The terrorist on April 22 gunned down 26 civilians in the picturesque Baisaran Valley at Pahalgam.

 

According to reports, the NIA has uncovered, in what they said was strong evidence, pointing towards the involvement of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, the ISI, and elements of the regular armed forces of the Pakistan army in the planning and execution of the attack.

 

However, the Pakistani side has denied any involvement in the attack and ruled out the existence of the Lashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistan, saying the group no longer exists.

 

Yet, one of the prime accused, Hashim Musa (also known as Suleman or Suleiman), involved in the Pahalgam attack, is believed to be a former Special Forces commando of the Pakistani army.

 

Meanwhile, the Resistance Front (TRF) operates in J&K and is said to be an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. Though it had initially claimed responsibility for the attack, later backtracked and denied having any role in the attack.

 

The terrorists apparently hid their weapons in the Betaab Valley before the attack, the NIA investigation has found, sources said, adding that they were aided by overground workers (OGWS).

 

Overground workers had allegedly provided critical local intelligence to the terrorists. As per the NIA sources, the terrorists might still be hiding in the forests of south Kashmir.

 

The terrorists, believed to be 5-7 in number, were in regular contact with their handlers in PoK, who coordinated, directed, and executed the attack remotely, sources told reporters.

 

The NIA had on April 27 taken over the terrorist attack case, and NIA chief Sadanand Date on Thursday inspected the site of the April 22 terror attack at Baisaran.