Pahalgam, May 1, 2025 – The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Director General, Sadanand Date, arrived in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on May 1, 2025, to spearhead the probe into the April 22 terror attack that claimed 26 lives in the serene Baisaran meadow. The high-profile visit signals the agency’s determination to bring the perpetrators of this heinous assault on tourists to justice, with suspicions pointing to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its affiliate, The Resistance Front (TRF).
The attack, one of the deadliest in recent years, saw five terrorists unleash a brutal assault in Baisaran Valley, killing 25 Indian tourists and one Nepali national. The NIA assumed control of the investigation on April 26, filing a fresh FIR under its Counter Terrorism and Counter Radicalisation division. Since then, specialized teams have been combing the sealed-off meadow, gathering forensic evidence and interviewing survivors to piece together the attack’s chilling details.
Accompanied by senior NIA officers and local security forces, DG Date inspected the Baisaran site, assessing the crime scene where terrorists, armed with sophisticated weapons like M4 carbines, executed their plan. The investigation has zeroed in on three suspects: Adil Hussain Thoker, a local from Anantnag, and two Pakistani nationals, Ali Bhai and Hashim Musa, all linked to LeT. A ₹60 lakh reward has been offered for information leading to their arrest. Evidence suggests the attackers, guided by cross-border handlers, moved through Kokernag forests to carry out the meticulously planned strike.
Key breakthroughs include a tourist’s video capturing the attackers’ movements and a military officer’s testimony revealing the terrorists’ demands for victims to recite religious phrases before targeted killings. The NIA is also tracing digital footprints linking the plot to safe houses in Pakistan, hinting at a broader terror network. These findings have fueled India’s response, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and blocking Pakistani online content.
Despite the tragedy, Pahalgam’s spirit remains unbroken, with tourists, including a Vietnamese visitor who called Kashmir “a heaven on earth,” returning to its scenic landscapes. The NIA’s rigorous investigation, backed by over 1,500 detentions and targeted demolitions, aims to dismantle terror infrastructure, ensuring the safety of Jammu and Kashmir’s vital tourism sector. DG Date’s presence in Pahalgam underscores a resolute commitment to justice and security, as the region strives to reclaim its peace.