“No Local Involvement”: Omar Abdullah On Arrest Of 2 Men Over Pahalgam Attack
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“No Local Involvement”: Omar Abdullah On Arrest Of 2 Men Over Pahalgam Attack
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah insists there is no local involvement in the attack. Two locals have been arrested for allegedly harbouring three Pakistani terrorists behind the massacre of 26 people in Pahalgam. The two, NIA said, have also confirmed the identity of terrorists as Pakistani nationals. But so far, the NIA or security forces have not been able to track the attackers, who killed innocent tourists for their religious identity and shot most of them from point blank range.
The Chief Minister maintained that the two locals arrested for harbouring attackers may well have done it under duress.
“There was no local involvement in the Pahalgam attack. The attackers were outsiders (Pakistanis). According to the NIA investigation, two locals have been arrested for assisting them, possibly by providing food, though coercion cannot be ruled out. Let the investigation proceed,” said Mr Abdullah.
On Sunday, exactly two months after Pahalgam massacre, the NIA said two locals from Pahalgam have confessed to harbouring three terrorists. The two, NIA said, have also confirmed the identity of terrorists as Pakistani nationals.
But so far, the NIA or security forces have not been able to track the attackers, who killed innocent tourists for their religious identity and shot most of them from point blank range.
According to doctors, most the victims had bullet injuries in their upper bodies.
Mr Abdullah has often defended the central government over allegations of possible security lapse that led to killing of 26 people – all but one of them tourists — on April 22 at Pahalgam’s Baisaran valley.
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The Central government is directly responsible for the police and law and order in the Union Territory. The Opposition has consistently been accusing the Union government of a major security lapse that led to the terror attack, and the subsequent failure to track down the attackers.
Soon after the attack, pictures of attackers surfaced and police have also announced a reward of Rs 60 lakh for anyone who provides a lead about these terrorists.
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But despite a massive security operation in the forests of Pahalgam, the security forces are groping in dark.
No one has a clue about the heavily armed terrorists, who vanished in the thick alpine forests.
The perceived presence of terrorists in the area has posed a serious security challenge ahead of the upcoming annual Amarnath yatra, which starts on July 3.
Hundreds of companies of security forces have been deployed in the area and the yatra track.
No Local Involvement In Pahalgam Attack, All Gunmen Were Outsiders: Omar Abdullah
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said there was “no local involvement” in the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. Omar said this two days after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) made its first major breakthrough in the case. Two local residents were arrested for allegedly harbouring the terrorists responsible for the April 22 attack, which also left 16 tourists grievously injured.
Omar said this two days after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) made its first major breakthrough in the case by arresting two local residents — Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar — for allegedly harbouring the terrorists responsible for the April 22 attack, which also left 16 tourists grievously injured.
NIA on Sunday said the two accused have disclosed the identities of the three armed terrorists involved in the attack, and have also confirmed that they were Pakistani nationals affiliated to the proscribed terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
“ The biggest thing is that there was no local involvement. The gunmen who shot the 26 people were all foreigners,” Omar told reporters in tourist resort of Gulmarg.
He said the NIA during the investigation arrested two people for helping the attackers.
He, however, stressed that the duo might have been coerced into helping the militants.
“And maybe the NIA also said that they were forced to help them. Now, let the investigation continue. After that, the charges will be presented to the NIA,” he said.
On Monday, the NIA said it has gathered a substantial body of evidence regarding the identities of terrorists involved in the attack based on eyewitness accounts from victims, video footages, technical evidence and even the sketches earlier released by Jammu and Kashmir Police.
The NIA said the identities and further details of the terrorists will be made public at an appropriate time. (Agencies)