Pahalgam terror attack: Eyewitness provided key intelligence to NIA, told agency terrorists fired in air to celebrate killings
Among attackers was a notorious LeT commander named Sulaiman, wanted in multiple terror cases in Jammu and Kashmir
PTC Web Desk: In a fresh update on the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians, sources have confirmed that the perpetrators openly celebrated the massacre by firing shots in the air. The brazen display of violence occurred moments after the assault in Baisaran Valley, Kashmir.
Security officials said the three terrorists, believed to be linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), indulged in celebratory gunfire right after unleashing terror on innocent tourists. Among the attackers was a notorious LeT commander named Sulaiman, wanted in multiple terror cases in Jammu and Kashmir, including a deadly strike on workers involved in the Z-Morh tunnel project.
A major breakthrough in the probe has come from a local service provider who witnessed the attack and later came face-to-face with the militants. Described as a critical informant by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), this individual has helped piece together the sequence of events and identify those complicit in the operation.
Based on the eyewitness testimony, two local individuals—now arrested—played a key logistical role in aiding the terrorists. They were reportedly seen managing the attackers' belongings on the day of the incident, hinting at prior coordination and planning.
The April 22 assault, carried out by Pakistan-backed militants, primarily targeted tourists in the serene Baisaran Valley. The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, later claimed responsibility for the bloodshed.
In response to the attack, India took a hard diplomatic and strategic stance against Pakistan. Measures included suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, expelling Pakistani diplomats, and closing the Attari-Wagah border indefinitely.