NIA Releases Sketches of Suspects in Pahalgam Terror Attack; Search Operation Intensifies

Key Highlights:

Pahalgam Terror Attack investigation saw a significant development on April 23, 2025, with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) releasing sketches of two suspects believed to be involved in the heinous attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

The move comes as part of intensified efforts to track down the perpetrators responsible for the attack, which left five tourists from Maharashtra dead and several others injured earlier this week.

NIA Urges Public to Assist in Identifying Terror Suspects

The NIA shared facial sketches of two individuals believed to have played a key role in executing the ambush in the Pahalgam area. The agency has asked the general public to share any information that may help in identifying or locating the suspects, promising confidentiality and security to informants.

The sketches were prepared based on eyewitness inputs and forensic reconstruction techniques. Officials stated that the visuals were corroborated with CCTV footage and on-ground intelligence.

Pahalgam Terror Attack: Search Operation Expands Across Anantnag

Security forces have expanded their search and cordon operations across multiple zones in Anantnag, especially in and around the Baisaran hills and surrounding forested terrain.

Sniffer dogs, drone surveillance, and elite counter-terror units have been deployed in coordination with the Indian Army, CRPF, and J&K Police.

A senior security official confirmed,

“We are conducting house-to-house searches in identified pockets. The leads obtained so far have been significant and are being pursued with urgency.”

National and Local Response Intensifies

The release of the sketches comes shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and several political parties across the spectrum condemned the attack. PM Modi has vowed that the perpetrators will not be spared.

Meanwhile, the Kashmir Bandh called for April 24, supported by various parties including JKNC, PDP, Hurriyat Conference, and local civil societies, is expected to bring the region to a standstill in a show of unity and protest.

What This Means for You

• Residents of Jammu & Kashmir: Be alert and report any suspicious activity to the nearest security outpost.
• Tourists and travelers: Adhere to all advisories issued by security agencies and avoid conflict zones.
• Civic groups and NGOs: May join hands in awareness campaigns to aid the investigation and community support.

How to Take Action

• If you recognize the suspects from the NIA sketches, report to NIA’s official helpline or local police.
• Share the sketch visuals only from official sources to avoid misinformation.
• Cooperate with ongoing security checks across the region.

Who Will Be Affected

• Investigative agencies, who now rely heavily on public support for the next breakthrough.
• Local civilians, particularly in South Kashmir, facing heightened security presence and movement restrictions.
• Terror networks, now under intense scrutiny from both domestic and international security observers.

Public Involvement May Hold the Key to Justice in Pahalgam Terror Attack

The release of the suspect sketches marks a crucial moment in the probe into the Pahalgam terror attack, transforming it from a closed investigation to a community-led manhunt. As India mourns its victims, authorities have made it clear — terror has no place in Kashmir, and the guilty will be brought to justice.

With boots on the ground and eyes in the sky, the search is on — and now, the public has been called upon to play its part in restoring peace and accountability in the Valley.

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