Pahalgam attack: Eyewitness accounts key in absence of CCTV footage

Srinagar, Apr 25: With no CCTV footage available from the site of the recent Pahalgam attack, the probe teams are heavily dependent on eyewitness testimonies and physical evidence collected from the area. Sources said that preliminary leads suggest that the attackers may have fled toward the higher reaches of the Pir Panjal range soon after carrying out the strike.
Security forces have intensified searches at the houses of active militants and suspected overground workers (OGWs) in districts like Shopian, Pulwama, and Anantnag. A senior police officer said that the operations are aimed at uncovering any support network or safe houses that may have aided the attackers before or after the assault.
Adding a new dimension to the investigation, the role of Saifullah Kasuri, an associate of Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed is being closely scrutinized. Kasuri had surfaced in a provocative video posted on social media in February, vowing to make Kashmir “the land of the pure” by February 2, 2026, and hinting at a spike in militant activity.
A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team, led by Inspector General Vijay Sakhare, is currently stationed in Srinagar and has formally taken over the probe with logistical and intelligence support from Jammu and Kashmir Police. Sources say the NIA is looking into both local and cross-border links that could have played a role in orchestrating the attack.
Notably, Pahalgam attack left 26 civilians mostly tourists dead while 17 people sustained injuries. [KNT]