A big revelation has come out in the investigation of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. Electronic surveillance has identified 15 local Kashmiri overground workers (OGW) and terrorist associates as the main suspects. They are suspected of helping the Pakistani attackers. 3 key suspects have been arrested while the search for two is still on.

After the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on the basis of electronic surveillance, 15 local Kashmiri overground workers (OGW) and terrorist associates have been identified as the main suspects, who are suspected of helping the Pakistani attackers in the Pahalgam massacre.

3 key suspects arrested, search for two continues

It is believed that along with arranging resources, they also received consignments of weapons from Pakistan. Sources said the multi-agency investigation has zeroed in on five key suspects, three of whom have been nabbed and may eventually be arrested. Police are looking for two other OGWs.

All five men were in the vicinity on the day of the attack and before that. Their phones were active in the area. Electronic surveillance brought forth a chat in which the three detained key suspects were talking to each other about Pakistani terrorists in Pahalgam and how to help them.

Over 200 suspects detained for questioning

Meanwhile, sources said over 200 overground workers have been detained for questioning to ascertain the possible links of the attack. The attackers may still be hiding in the dense Pahalgam forests. Sources said there is enough evidence pointing to the role of all the five in the Pahalgam attack.

10 other OGWs are being questioned by a joint interrogation team comprising investigators from the NIA, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Intelligence Bureau and RAW as they are known to have helped Pakistani terrorists in Kashmir in the past and were in the vicinity of the site of the attack on April 22.

15 local terror associates are from south Kashmir and all of them are already listed as OGWs by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and are believed to have helped Pakistani terrorists involved in several attacks in south Kashmir in the last few years.

These terror associates helped with resources for Pakistani terrorists, guided them in the forests and even received consignments of weapons from Pakistan for use in terror attacks.

The detained overground workers are being questioned

There is enough circumstantial evidence pointing to their role as facilitators and arrange resources for the team that carried out the Pahalgam attack, which included 4-5 terrorists, of which at least two were Pakistanis and two local Kashmiris.

An official said that we are trying to get more information from the 15 detained OGWs, so that the dots of the conspiracy can be connected and then a decision can be taken on their possible arrest.

As of Saturday, more than 200 OGWs have been detained and questioned to help unravel the sequence of events related to the Pahalgam attack. About 20-25 OGWs have been detained for questioning. These OGWs are known to be in touch with Pakistani terrorists, shelter them and act as guides for them.

Terrorists may be hiding in dense forests

We are scrutinizing the OGW database, more than 1,500 of them have been questioned, and now the focus is on 15 possible suspects. Apart from this, other OGWs active in South Kashmir are also being questioned to get information about the identity of Pakistani terrorists seen in the area and their possible hideouts, an official said.

Sources said that the search operation has been further intensified to nab the terrorists who fled to the forests of Baisaran Valley. No clue of the attackers has been found so far during the search operation in nearby cities and districts, but it is suspected that they may still be hiding in dense forests, including grasslands.