Surinder Sharma
Jammu: June 23, 2025 — A local court in Jammu today formally remanded two alleged overground workers (OGWs), arrested yesterday in connection with the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) secured five days of custody to intensify questioning and further the ongoing investigation into the terror network behind the mass shooting.
The suspects, residents of Pahalgam, are accused of providing shelter, food, and logistical assistance to the three Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists who carried out the attack, which resulted in 26 fatalities and 16 injuries.
During the proceedings, the NIA highlighted that the assistance from the OGWs was critical in enabling the attackers to operate in the Baisaran Valley, located 6 km from Pahalgam town. Investigators pointed out that such support networks are essential for cross-border terrorist operations.
A senior NIA official noted: “Our aim is to use this additional custody period to trace broader elements of the network, including handlers and financiers based in Pakistan.”
The move follows a broader crackdown that has drawn in approximately 15 individuals suspected of being overground workers, identified via electronic surveillance, and efforts are underway to dismantle the network’s reach across South Kashmir.
These arrests mark a pivotal step in exposing logistics channels and financial backers, as well as scrutinizing infiltration routes and safehouses tied to LeT’s operations in the region.
