Pahalgam Terror Attack: Pune Tourist’s Video Captures Suspected Terrorists Days Before Assault, NIA Investigates

The footage shows two suspicious individuals passing behind tourist daughter while he was filming reels at Betaab Valley. Upon returning to Pune and learning about the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 tourists were killed (including six from Maharashtra), tourist reviewed his trip footage. He noticed that the individuals in his video closely resembled two of the suspects whose photos were later released by the government.

Realizing the potential importance of the video, tourist promptly contacted the NIA office in Delhi and shared the footage. The agency has since launched a detailed investigation to verify the identities of the individuals captured in the video.

Background of the Pahalgam Terror Attack

The Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22 claimed 26 lives and sent shockwaves across the country. The government released photographs of five suspected attackers shortly after the incident. Tourist and his family had visited Betaab Valley as part of their Kashmir tour, unknowingly recording key evidence that could aid investigators.

Key Questions Emerging from the Investigation

The surfacing of this video has raised several critical questions for investigators:

1. Were the terrorists residing in Betaab Valley for several days before the attack?
2. Were they conducting reconnaissance activities in the Betaab Valley area ahead of the assault?
3. Since Betaab Valley offers fewer escape routes, did the terrorists deliberately shift their plan to Pahalgam, which has more tourist movement and potential targets?
4. Was Pahalgam chosen over Betaab Valley because of its higher footfall of tourists, making it a more impactful target?

The NIA’s detailed scrutiny of the Pune tourist’s footage could provide significant breakthroughs in understanding the terrorists’ movements and planning in the days leading up to the attack.

Further updates are awaited as the investigation progresses.