In the aftermath of the deadly terrorist attack in Baisaran Valley, Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 25 tourists and one local resident on April 22, Jammu and Kashmir Police have detained 75 individuals under the Public Safety Act (PSA). The law permits preventive detention for up to two years without formal charges.
The investigation, now being led by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), has triggered a widespread security crackdown across the region. Raids and search operations have intensified not only in Kashmir but also in parts of Jammu, particularly in the Chenab and Pir Panjal regions, indicating a broader militant network at play.
According to Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) V K Birdi, the 75 individuals were booked under the PSA as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle militant infrastructure. “Seventy-five people have been detained under the PSA,” Birdi confirmed, as quoted by The Economic Times.
Since the attack, authorities have reportedly questioned more than 2,000 individuals and carried out extensive search operations across several districts. Security forces have also uncovered and disrupted multiple overground worker (OGW) modules—civilian operatives believed to be aiding militant groups with logistics and shelter.
A senior police official, also quoted by The Economic Times, said several hideouts have been raided, and key suspects have been identified. “We have busted a number of OGW networks believed to be linked to the Pahalgam incident,” the official noted.
With the NIA now officially at the helm of the investigation, the case has taken on a national dimension, reflecting the gravity of the attack and the potential scale of the network involved.
