Daijiworld Media Network - Jammu

Jammu, Aug 28: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday disclosed key reasons behind the terrorists’ choice of Baisaran meadow for the brutal terror attack in April that claimed 26 lives.

According to the NIA spokesperson, the attackers deliberately picked Baisaran due to its heavy tourist traffic, the relative isolation of the area, and the anticipated delay in response from security forces. “Three terrorists were directly involved in the cold-blooded killing of 26 people on April 22. The site was chosen after considering the response time of security agencies deployed there,” the official said.

The terrorists targeted male tourists enjoying activities around eateries, pony rides, and picnics with their families, including children and elders, at the serene meadow near Pahalgam.

In a major breakthrough, the NIA arrested two individuals in June for harboring the three Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists who were later neutralized in a July 28 encounter near Srinagar during ‘Operation Mahadev.’ The arrested men, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from Batkote and Bashir Ahmad Jothar from Pahalgam, confessed to providing shelter, food, and logistical support to the militants.

The three LeT terrorists had been hiding in the Dachigam-Harwan forest belt following the attack, the agency revealed.

In retaliation to the Pahalgam attack, the Indian armed forces launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 7, targeting nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The precision strikes focused on the headquarters and training centers of LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed, groups responsible for planning terror attacks on India.

The operation inflicted significant damage on 18 defense installations in Pakistan, marking a strong military response to the terror incident.