Terrorists Fired In Air To Celebrate Carnage, Pahalgam Eyewitness Narrates Horror To Investigators

New Delhi: During the ongoing probe into the terrorist attack in Jammu & Kashmir's Pahalgam, which killed 26 innocents, a key eyewitness has revealed that terrorists were seen firing in the air to celebrate the killings, reported The Indian Express.

The eyewitness, a local service provider who was confronted by the terrorists moments after the attack, has provided key information that is proving to be an important breakthrough in the probe.

Earlier last month, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) had arrested two locals — Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad — for allegedly harbouring the attackers. “They disclosed the identities of the three armed terrorists and confirmed that they were Pakistani nationals affiliated to the Lashkar-e-Toiba,” an NIA spokesperson was quoted saying by The Indian Express.

"The terrorists stopped him while they were leaving Baisaran after killing the tourists." “He was asked to recite the kalma, and once he started speaking in his local accent, they spared him. They started celebratory firing — four rounds were shot in the air", reported Indian express.

Based on his statement, the investigation team recovered four used cartridges from the spot. The man is also learnt to have told investigators that he saw Parvaiz and Bashir — the two arrested locals — allegedly standing near a hill and taking care of the belongings of the terrorists, which the attackers eventually collected from them.

“Parvaiz has claimed that a day before the attack, all three terrorists came to his house around 3:30 pm and asked for food. They were carrying weapons. His wife served them food, and they sat for around four hours, asking questions related to security arrangements in Baisaran, tourist gathering spots, routes, and timings,” a source in a central intelligence agency was quoted as saying by Indian Express.

Before leaving the house, the terrorist asked Parvaiz’s wife to pack some spices and uncooked rice, and gave the family five notes of Rs 500. “Afterwards, they met Bashir. They asked them (the two locals) to reach Baisaran around 12:30 pm on April 22 and left for a seasonal dhok (hut) at Hill Park,” the source said.

Pahalgam Attack & Aftermath

On April 22, around 2.45 pm, a group of terrorists clothed in camouflage fatigues shot dead 26 innocent tourists in the Baisaran meadow, 7 km from Pahalgam in Kashmir. Most victims were Hindus.

Post the attack, the Indian government took a series of decisions, including closure of the border, immediate return of all Pakistanis visiting India, reduction of officials in the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi from 55 to 30, and holding of the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance till Pakistan takes effective action to prevent cross-border terrorism.

'Govt Ready For Talks On 'Operation Sindoor', Pahalgam But Parliament Must Function: BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal

Operation Sindoor:

On the nights of May 6 and 7, the Indian Air Force and Army undertook measured and meticulously crafted precision attacks on nine terrorist sites in Pakistan, including those of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) headquarters in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) headquarters in Mudrike.