Closed Shops on Pahalgam Attack Day Spark NIA Probe, Terrorist Aides Face Crackdown

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has intensified its probe into the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians, focusing on shopkeepers who shuttered their businesses on the day of the massacre. A notable case involves a local in Anantnag who opened a shop just 15 days prior but kept it closed during the attack, raising suspicions of prior knowledge or complicity. The NIA, having questioned over 2,800 locals and detained 150, is examining call records and internet activity to uncover potential links to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives, including Pakistani ex-commando Hashim Musa. This investigation signals a broader crackdown on terrorist aides in Jammu and Kashmir.

Unraveling the Attack’s Network
The Pahalgam attack, executed in Baisaran Valley, involved four terrorists—three Pakistani nationals and local Adil Thokar—who trekked 22 hours from Kokernag forests. The NIA’s preliminary findings confirm the terrorists were aided by overground workers (OGWs) providing logistics, shelter, and reconnaissance. Shops that closed, particularly in strategic locations, are suspected of serving as lookout points or safe havens. Forensic evidence, including AK-47 and M4 rifle shells, and a local photographer’s tree-top video have bolstered the probe, revealing a meticulously planned assault coordinated with ISI handlers in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The NIA is also interrogating jailed terrorists linked to prior attacks for connections.

Massive Crackdown on Terror Ecosystem
In response, security forces have detained over 1,900 suspects across Kashmir, demolished homes of eight LeT and Hizbul Mujahideen militants, and raided 36 suspected terrorist residences in Srinagar. The crackdown, intensified after the attack, targets local support networks, with police seizing arms caches in Kupwara. However, regional parties like the National Conference have halted demolitions, citing alienation risks. The NIA’s focus on OGWs aims to dismantle the infrastructure enabling such attacks, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah vowing relentless pursuit of all involved.