NIA Arrests Two for Sheltering Pahalgam Attack Terrorists; 32 Locations Raided Across Kashmir

 New Delhi | June 22, 2025 The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday announced the arrest of two individuals accused of providing shelter to terrorists involved in the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 people. The arrests mark a significant development in the ongoing investigation into one of the deadliest terror strikes in the region this year.

The action follows a series of coordinated raids conducted earlier this month at 32 locations across the Kashmir Valley, including Shopian, Kulgam, Pulwama, Sopore, and Kupwara. These raids targeted the residences and hideouts of suspected overground workers with alleged links to Pakistan-based terror outfits, according to officials familiar with the matter.

The multi-agency operation was carried out jointly by the NIA, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and central paramilitary forces. While the raids were not officially linked to the Pahalgam attack, they form part of a broader crackdown under a case registered two years ago against banned terrorist organisations and their affiliates operating in the region.

According to sources, intelligence inputs had indicated that several overground workers were actively aiding terrorist groups with logistical support, communication channels, and safe havens — all of which remain under the NIA’s scanner.

The federal agency’s latest action underscores its intensified efforts to dismantle the terror infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir and curb the influence of groups operating at the behest of foreign handlers.

Further details on the identities of the arrested individuals and their specific roles in the Pahalgam attack are expected to be released as the investigation progresses.