New Delhi: A tourist from Maharashtra’s Jalna was reportedly in Kashmir when terrorists struck at a meadow in Pahalgam, killing 26 people. After having returned from the Valley, the tourist on Wednesday made a big claim. He said that one of the suspected assailants of the Pahalgam terror attack spoke to him a day before he carried out the dastardly act.
Recounting his brief conversation with a man at a food stall in the Baisaran Valley on April 21, Adarsh Raut told news agency PTI, the terror suspect asked him: “Hindu ho kya. You don’t look like you are from Kashmir.”
On April 21, Raut claimed that he had gone to enjoy horse riding in Pahalgam and had stopped over at a “Maggi stall” for having some food when he was approached by a man, who enquired about his religion. “The suspect then turned to his companion and said, ‘It’s less crowded today,’” Raut added.
Disturbed by the interaction
Raut pointed out that he was slightly disturbed by the interaction with the man. However, he didn’t realise its real importance until the day after when tourists were gunned down by terrorists.
“After I saw the sketches released by the NIA (National Investigation Agency), I connected the dots,” Raut said. He claimed that he had sent the NIA a detailed email recalling his experience in Kashmir. “I have also mentioned that I could not initially pay the Maggi stall owner due to network issues. I took his phone number and paid him once I came down from the hill,” he pointed out.
He is yet to receive any response from the NIA. NIA has taken over the Pahalgam attack case from the Jammu and Kashmir Police. NIA has been grilling people to delve deep into the case and gather all key details. NIA teams have been stationed at the site where the terror attack occurred since April 23 and have enhanced their efforts to collect evidence regarding the incident.
