A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Jammu has approved a significant 45-day extension for the custodial remand and investigation of two individuals. These individuals are accused of providing shelter to Pakistani terrorists responsible for the tragic Pahalgam attack that occurred in April.
Special NIA Judge Sandeep Gandotra issued the order on September 18, prolonging the investigative and remand period for Bashir Ahmad Jothat, from Baisaran, Pahalgam, and Parvaiz Ahmad, from Batkote, Pahalgam.
The court found a compelling prima facie case supporting this extension, citing the serious allegations, the ongoing progress of the investigation, and the critical need to await outstanding forensic and DNA profiling reports.
The official court order explicitly states, “Accordingly, an extension for a period of 45 days is granted to the investigating officer for the case’s inquiry, beyond the initial 90-day period, in favor of accused Bashir Ahmad Jothat and Parvaiz Ahmad, with a directive to conclude the investigation as quickly as possible.”
The court explicitly instructed the investigating officer to accelerate and finalize the inquiry as swiftly as possible. The original 90-day investigative remand, along with a 10-day judicial remand for the two accused, was set to conclude on Friday.
Following the expiration of their initial remand, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothat and Bashir Ahmad Jothat appeared virtually before the court on September 18. Officials confirmed that the court extended their investigation and remand periods, providing the NIA with more time to conduct its thorough inquiry.
The judge noted that the request for a 90-day extension for the investigation was considered “well-founded” and “deserved acceptance,” particularly as the probe enters a critical phase.
Furthermore, the court highlighted that numerous witness statements and forensic reports were still pending review.
The court stated, “The DNA profiling report for comparing with the accused is also pending. A strong prima facie case has been established, justifying the extension of remand and detention of the accused beyond the initial 90-day period.”
Public Prosecutor Chandan Kumar Singh, representing the NIA, had submitted an application to extend custody from 90 to 180 days under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The prosecution emphasized that vital evidence was still outstanding, including witness statements, forensic findings, DNA profiling of recovered items like blankets and shawls, and analysis of mobile data connected to Pakistani phone numbers. Additionally, the investigation had reportedly uncovered more suspects and overground workers, with recoveries from a July 28 encounter—where three terrorists were killed—awaiting expert examination.
The prosecutor detailed that “Several Pakistani phone numbers were retrieved from the accused’s mobile phones, and their detailed information needs to be confirmed. Three terrorists were neutralized, and various items recovered from them have been dispatched to NFSU Gandhinagar for analysis, with the report still pending. Furthermore, arms and ammunition recovered from the killed terrorists during the July 28 encounter are awaiting FSL report details.”
Mr. Singh further elaborated that blankets, shawls, and bedsheets recovered based on information from Jothat and Ahmad have been sent to CFSL Chandigarh for DNA extraction and comparison with the deceased terrorists.
He confirmed that “The report for these items is still anticipated.” The case, which the NIA re-registered, concerns the fatal attack on tourists from a specific community at Baisaran meadow, Pahalgam, on April 22, 2025. Bashir Ahmad Jothat and Parvaiz Ahmad, the accused, were apprehended on June 22 and remain under judicial custody at Amphalla Jail in Jammu.
According to the NIA, the accused have revealed the identities of the three armed terrorists involved in the attack, confirming they were Pakistani nationals linked to the banned terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
The federal agency claims that Parvaiz and Bashir deliberately provided refuge to the terrorists in a seasonal ‘dhok’ (hut) located in Hill Park, Pahalgam, prior to the April 22 attack. This devastating incident resulted in the deaths of 26 people, predominantly tourists, and left 16 others wounded.