15 Local Aides Linked to Pahalgam Terror Attack : Investigation Reveals
NEW DELHI : In a major breakthrough, investigators have identified 15 local Kashmiri overground workers (OGWs) who are suspected of assisting Pakistani terrorists involved in the recent Pahalgam attack. Based on electronic surveillance and intelligence inputs, authorities believe these individuals provided critical logistical support and possibly helped in receiving arms consignments from Pakistan.
Sources indicate that a multi-agency probe has focused on five key suspects. Of these, three have already been detained and are likely to be formally arrested soon, while two others remain at large. All five suspects were found to have been active in the area around the time of the attack, with their mobile phones tracked nearby.
Investigators discovered an intercepted conversation between the three detained suspects discussing Pakistani terrorists operating in Pahalgam and ways to assist them.
In addition to these developments, over 200 OGWs have been taken into custody for questioning as authorities work to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the attack.
Suspects May Still Be Hiding in Pahalgam’s Dense Forests
Sources confirmed there is substantial circumstantial evidence linking the five main suspects to the Pahalgam assault. A joint interrogation team consisting of the NIA, J&K Police, Intelligence Bureau, and RAW is currently questioning ten other OGWs, who have a history of aiding Pakistani terrorists and were reportedly present near the attack site on April 22.
According to officials, all 15 suspects hail from South Kashmir and had been previously classified as OGWs by J&K police. They are believed to have assisted Pakistani terrorists over the years by providing safe passage through forests, arranging logistics, and handling arms consignments for planned attacks across the region.
“There is strong circumstantial evidence suggesting these individuals facilitated and arranged logistics for the Pahalgam attackers, a team of 4–5 terrorists, including at least two Pakistanis and two local Kashmiris,” a senior officer said. Investigators are working to extract further details from the detained suspects before proceeding with formal charges.
Efforts to track down the attackers continue. Security forces have intensified combing operations in the dense forests surrounding Baisaran, suspecting that the terrorists might still be hiding there. With no trace of the attackers found in nearby towns and districts, authorities believe the dense forest cover may be providing them refuge.
Over 1,500 OGWs have been interrogated during the broader investigation. “Currently, about 20–25 OGWs are under detention for questioning. These individuals have a history of working closely with Pakistani terrorists — providing shelter, guidance, and operational support,” a source revealed.
As the probe deepens, the focus remains on piecing together the entire conspiracy behind the Pahalgam attack and bringing all involved to justice.
