The National Investigation Agency has filed a comprehensive chargesheet running into 1,300 pages in a special NIA court in Jammu in connection with the devastating terror attack in Pahalgam, marking a significant step in the prosecution process nearly eight months after the assault that shocked the country and drew global condemnation.
The chargesheet was filed on Monday and lays out the findings of the agency’s detailed investigation into the July 22 attack in the Baisaran valley near Pahalgam, in which 26 tourists were killed and 16 others injured. According to the NIA, the attack was carried out with clear intent to target civilians based on their religious identity, making it one of the most brutal terror incidents in the region in recent years. The agency has also confirmed that all three terrorists involved in the attack were subsequently neutralised by the Indian Army during Operation Mahadev.
The filing of the chargesheet comes months after the NIA arrested two local men accused of providing shelter and logistical support to the terrorists. Investigators say the material placed before the court includes witness statements, forensic evidence, call records, digital data, and details of the terror network that planned and executed the attack.
Attack details and operation Mahadev findings
The Pahalgam terror attack took place on July 22 in the scenic Baisaran valley, located around six kilometres from the main town of Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in Jammu and Kashmir. On that day, heavily armed terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists, killing 26 people and injuring at least 16 others. The NIA has stated that the victims were selectively targeted on the basis of their religious identity, underlining the ideological motive behind the attack.
The incident sent shockwaves across the country and abroad, prompting strong reactions from political leaders, security experts, and the international community. It also led to intensified counterterrorism operations across the region, as security forces launched a massive manhunt to track down those responsible.
According to sources cited in the investigation, the NIA has identified all three terrorists involved in the attack. One of the key names mentioned is Sajid Jatt, a Pakistan-based operative described as the operations chief of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. Investigators believe Jatt acted as the main handler of the Pahalgam attack, coordinating planning, movement, and execution from across the border.
Another major accused named in the case is Hashim Musa, who has been described as the main on-ground operative involved in carrying out the killings. Along with two other terrorists, Musa was tracked down by security forces in the days following the attack.
On July 28, security forces launched Operation Mahadev in the Harwan forest area near Srinagar, acting on specific intelligence inputs. The operation resulted in the killing of all three terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack. According to official accounts, the encounter brought an end to the immediate threat posed by the attackers, though the broader investigation into their support network continued.
The NIA’s chargesheet reportedly includes detailed accounts of the encounter, ballistic analysis linking weapons used in the attack to those recovered during the operation, and intelligence inputs that helped establish the chain of events from planning to execution. The agency has maintained that the evidence clearly establishes the involvement of the slain terrorists and their links to the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba organisation.
Investigators have also focused on reconstructing the movement of the terrorists before and after the attack, tracing how they entered the region, where they stayed, and how they managed to evade detection until the attack was carried out. This reconstruction forms a substantial part of the chargesheet and is aimed at demonstrating the systematic and premeditated nature of the crime.
Role of local aides and ongoing investigation
A crucial aspect of the NIA’s case centres on the alleged role of two local men accused of providing shelter and assistance to the terrorists. The two accused have been identified as Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar, a resident of Batkote in Pahalgam, and Bashir Ahmad Jothar from Hill Park in Pahalgam. The agency arrested them under section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
According to the NIA, both men knowingly harboured the terrorists at a seasonal dhok, or hut, located in the Hill Park area prior to the attack. Investigators allege that the accused provided food, shelter, and logistical support, fully aware of the terrorists’ identity and intent. The chargesheet states that this support was critical in enabling the attackers to prepare for and execute the assault on tourists.
During questioning, the two accused reportedly disclosed the identities of the three armed terrorists and confirmed that they were Pakistani nationals affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba. The NIA claims that their statements were corroborated by other evidence, including digital data, witness testimonies, and material recovered from the site and surrounding areas.
The agency has emphasised that the assistance provided by the accused was not incidental but deliberate and sustained. According to investigators, the seasonal hut served as a safe haven where the terrorists could rest, plan, and remain concealed before moving toward Baisaran valley on the day of the attack.
The chargesheet details how, on the afternoon of the attack, the terrorists moved from their hideout to the tourist area, where they carried out the killings in a targeted manner. The NIA has described the attack as one of the most brutal acts of terrorism in the region, citing the deliberate targeting of unarmed civilians and the scale of casualties.
The case registered by the NIA is numbered RC-02/2025/NIA/JMU and was formally taken up following the attack, which occurred on July 22. While the chargesheet has now been filed against the arrested accused, the agency has made it clear that the investigation is still ongoing, particularly with regard to identifying and prosecuting other individuals who may have provided support, funding, or guidance to the terrorists.
Officials have indicated that further supplementary chargesheets could be filed if new evidence emerges. The NIA continues to analyse financial transactions, communication records, and cross-border links to establish the full extent of the conspiracy behind the attack.
The filing of the 1,300-page chargesheet is being seen as a key milestone in the case, reflecting months of intensive investigation involving multiple agencies and security forces. It also underscores the focus of authorities on not only neutralising terrorists through security operations but also dismantling the local and cross-border networks that enable such attacks.
As the case moves forward in court, the chargesheet will form the basis for judicial scrutiny of the evidence gathered and the prosecution of those accused of aiding one of the deadliest terror attacks on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years.
