Srinagar, Sep 24: In a major breakthrough in a major development, security agencies have arrested an individual in the probe into the catastrophic terrorist attack that targeted the idyllic tourist spot of Pahalgam this year. The arrest has been regarded as a key move in unraveling the support structure of the attack that had witnessed one of the highest civilian casualty counts in recent times in the state.
As per official reports, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested a Over Ground worker (OGW) named Mohammad Kataria. He has been accused of being the key in providing logistical support to the terrorists involved in the April 22 attack in the Baisaran valley region. The attack had created shockwaves throughout the country, killing 26 civilians and injuring a number of others before the three terrorists were eliminated by security forces in a follow-up operation.
The breakthrough leading to Kataria’s arrest was not achieved through conventional intelligence alone but was significantly bolstered by meticulous forensic examination.
Investigators pieced together his alleged involvement following a detailed analysis of the weapons, ammunition, and other gear that were seized during ‘Operation Mahadev’—the high-intensity military action that led to the elimination of the three terrorists days after the massacre.
The forensic evidence established tangible connections indicating that Kataria had helped the attackers by providing them with necessary materials, thus allowing them to conduct the fatal ambush. The arrest is likely to shed significant light on the overall conspiracy, such as the origins of the terrorists and their support system in the valley.