Special NIA judge Sandeep Gandotra extended the investigation and remand period of Bashir Ahmad Jothat, who hails from Baisaran in Pahalgam and Parvaiz Ahmad from Batkote in Pahalgam
The accused, Bashir Ahmad Jothat and Parvaiz Ahmad, were arrested on June 22. PIC/X@kntnewsagency
A special NIA court in Jammu has extended by 45 days — beyond the stipulated 90-day period — the custodial remand of two accused arrested for allegedly harbouring Pakistani terrorists involved in the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in April.
Special NIA judge Sandeep Gandotra extended the investigation and remand period of Bashir Ahmad Jothat, who hails from Baisaran in Pahalgam and Parvaiz Ahmad from Batkote in Pahalgam. The court held a prima facie case in favour of the extension of the remand and the investigation in view of the allegations, progress of investigation and pending forensic and DNA profiling reports.
“Accordingly, the extension for a period of 45 days is given to the investigating officer for the investigation of the case beyond the period of 90 days in favour of accused Jothat and Ahmad with direction to complete the investigation of the case as soon as possible,” the order said.
The court directed the investigating officer to expedite and complete the investigation at the earliest. The 90-day period of remand for investigation as well as 10 days of judicial remand was due to expire on Friday. After the expiry of the earlier remand, Jothat and Ahmad were produced through virtual mode on September 18 before the court, which extended their period of investigation and remand to enable the NIA to carry out its probe, officials said.
The judge observed the plea for a 90-day extension of investigation was “well-founded” and “deserved acceptance” as the crucial stage of the probe. The court noted several witness statements and forensic reports were pending. The case, re-registered by the NIA, pertains to the killing of tourists from a particular community at Baisaran meadow, Pahalgam, on April 22, 2025. The accused, Jothat and Ahmad, were arrested on June 22 and have been in judicial custody at Amphalla Jail in Jammu.
According to the NIA, the accused disclosed the identities of the three armed terrorists involved in the attack and confirmed that they were Pakistani nationals affiliated with the banned terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The federal agency alleged that both had knowingly harboured the terrorists at a seasonal ‘dhok’ (hut) in Hill Park in Pahalgam before the April 22 attack that left 26 people, mostly tourists, dead and 16 others injured.
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