Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Oct 30: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has appointed Advocate Shri Singh as the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) to represent the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack case, which left 26 civilians, mostly tourists dead, and 16 others wounded.
A MHA notification states that Shri Singh will handle the trial and related proceedings before the NIA Special Court in Jammu and the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
His appointment will remain valid for three years from the date of notification or until the completion of the trial, whichever comes earlier.
The order was issued under sub-section (1) of Section 15 of the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008, read with sub-section (8) of Section 18 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.
It authorises the SPP to represent the NIA in case number RC-02/2025/NIA/JMU. Officials said the appointment is intended to ensure that the trial progresses efficiently and that the prosecution’s case is presented effectively before the court.
Pertinently, three terrorists affiliated with the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) targeted a group of tourists, resulting in 26 deaths and injuries to 16 others.
The attackers identified as Pakistani nationals Suleiman Shah alias Asif, Hamza Afghani alias Afghan, and Jibran were later killed in an encounter with the security forces during ‘Operation Mahadev’ in the Harwan forest area on July 28.
Following the attack, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) held a review meeting and approved several measures to strengthen counter-terror operations, including the launch of “Operation Sindoor,” aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure and cross-border networks.
The NIA took over the investigation from Jammu and Kashmir Police on April 27, 2025, under orders from the MHA, citing the case’s national security implications. Since then, the agency has focused on identifying the broader network behind the assault, including foreign funding links and local support.
By June 2025, the NIA arrested two residents of Pahalgam Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar of Batkote and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park for allegedly harbouring the attackers at a seasonal hut in Hill Park before the incident.
The two men were charged under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967. The agency continues to investigate to uncover the complete network involved in the planning and execution of the attack.
