Pahalgam Terror Attack Chargesheet Reveals Chilling Details of Pre-Planned Civilian Massacre

According to the chargesheet, the attackers, identified as Faisal Jatt alias Suleman Shah, Habeeb Tahir alias Jibran, and Hamza Afghani, were affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba, headed by Hafeez Saeed, a globally designated terrorist, and The Resistance Front, led by Habibullah Malik alias Sajid Jatt. All three attackers were later neutralised by Indian security forces during Operation Mahadev on the outskirts of Srinagar on July 29.

Investigators state that the conspiracy was traced back to Pakistan and involved planning, facilitation, and execution support from terror organisations operating across borders. The agency examined more than 1,100 individuals during the investigation.

The chargesheet details that a day prior to the attack, the three terrorists visited a local resident’s home near Baisaran. The resident, Parvaiz Ahmad, who operated a pony service in the valley, told investigators that his relative Bashir Ahmad Jothar entered their hut and instructed the family to remain silent before bringing in three armed men.

Parvaiz Ahmad stated that the armed men appeared exhausted and requested water, claiming they had travelled a long distance. After receiving water, they allegedly told him he would earn spiritual reward for assisting those engaged in what they described as armed struggle for Kashmiri Muslims. He further stated that the men spoke Urdu with a Punjabi accent and did not appear to be local residents. The attackers also asked him to conceal their bags and equipment under bedding inside the hut. Tea was later prepared for them, and they were provided food and packed bread before they departed around 10 pm. Both Parvaiz Ahmad and Bashir Ahmad Jothar were arrested on June 22 for allegedly sheltering the terrorists.

The following morning, the three attackers were again observed near Baisaran valley. Before entering the meadow, they reportedly ate lunch under a tree and covered themselves with blankets taken from their bags. They then conducted surveillance of the area, with two of them positioning themselves near a rivulet entry point to observe activity inside the meadow while later regrouping with the third member.

The chargesheet further states that the attackers left their belongings at a designated location and later re-approached the area. One of them wore an action camera mounted on his head before entering the park by crossing a fence. The attackers then split into positions near the main gate, toilet area, and zipline end of the meadow.

At 2:23 pm, the first shot was fired using an M4 carbine, followed seconds later by automatic fire from AK-47 rifles. The coordinated assault from multiple directions created what investigators described as a confined killing zone in the central meadow, maximising civilian casualties.

The attackers reportedly fired upon civilians hiding behind trees outside the fenced area and killed them at close range. During their escape, they intercepted another civilian and demanded that he recite the Islamic declaration of faith, releasing him after compliance. The chargesheet also notes that the attackers fired rounds in celebration after exiting the park, indicating, in the assessment of investigators, a continued commitment to their terror objective and a lack of remorse.

The National Investigation Agency has concluded that the attack was the result of a structured terror conspiracy involving cross-border handlers, local facilitators, and organised extremist networks aimed at mass civilian targeting in one of Kashmir’s most visited tourist destinations.