Pahalgam Terror Attack: Chilling Details Emerge as Investigation Deepens

 New intelligence and eyewitness accounts have revealed chilling new details about the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that left 26 civilians dead, including tourists, a local pony operator, and a Nepalese national. The attack, now considered one of the deadliest in the Kashmir Valley in recent years, appears to have been the result of a meticulously planned operation involving reconnaissance, religious profiling, and execution-style killings.

According to intelligence inputs, the assailants had conducted a recce of the Baisaran Valley and nearby hotels in the first week of April. Investigators believe the terrorists waited nearly two weeks for the right moment—delayed possibly by inclement weather—to execute their attack. It is suspected the attackers chose April 22 due to high tourist footfall following two days of rain, with nearly 5,000 people present in the area on the day of the massacre.

Eyewitnesses interviewed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) described a horrifying scene. At approximately 2:30 p.m., two armed men reportedly emerged from behind a food stall and began questioning tourists about their religion before executing four individuals. Survivors told investigators the attackers forced victims to lower their trousers and recite the Kalima to determine their faith before shooting them at close range.

Contrary to initial reports of indiscriminate firing, NIA officials now believe the killings were highly targeted. “They took specific aim at the head of each identified victim,” a senior agency source said. Most of the victims were Hindu men.

The violence continued for nearly 30 minutes, during which two additional gunmen reportedly joined the assault, opening fire on the panicked crowd from the direction of a nearby zip-line attraction.

Suspected Delays, Suspicious Activity Under Investigation

Investigators are probing whether adverse weather conditions earlier in the week may have temporarily stalled the terrorists’ plans. The NIA is also questioning several locals to determine if suspicious activity was observed during the reconnaissance phase. CCTV footage from hotels and guesthouses in Pahalgam is being reviewed for leads.

One zip-line operator has come under scrutiny after a video surfaced in which he is heard shouting “Allahu Akbar” seconds before gunfire erupted. Rishi Bhatt, a tourist who captured the video while zip-lining, told CNN-News18 that the operator’s actions seemed deliberately timed. "He said it just before pushing me and looked both ways before the shooting started," Bhatt said. The NIA has questioned the operator but emphasized that no conclusions have been drawn about his involvement, noting that all angles are being thoroughly examined.

Key Witness: Attack Captured on Video

A local videographer who was filming tourist reels in Baisaran at the time of the attack has become a crucial witness. He inadvertently captured parts of the attack on video, footage that investigators are now analyzing to identify the attackers and any potential overground workers (OGWs) who may have aided them.

The NIA continues to lead the investigation, working in coordination with state and central security agencies, as the nation mourns the victims and demands accountability for the assault that has shaken the region and drawn global condemnation.