Karambir Singh Nalwa appointed Special Public Prosecutor in Pahalgam Terror Case 2025
Senior Advocate Karambir Singh Nalwa has been appointed Special Public Prosecutor to lead the NIA trial in the Pahalgam terror attack case, a year after 26 people were killed.
North Desk Bureau
Chandigarh, April 27
Senior Advocate Karambir Singh Nalwa has been appointed Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) to lead the Pahalgam terror attack trial against the accused — exactly one year after 26 people were killed in the attack — the deadliest strike on civilians in Kashmir in over two decades.
The appointment, indicating that Centre has moved decisively on the legal front, was notified by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on April 22, 2026 — the first anniversary of the attack — even as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has already filed a comprehensive chargesheet naming six individuals and two Pakistan-based terror organisations.
Karambir Singh Nalwa: The Appointment
In a gazette notification issued under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008, read with the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, the Home Ministry appointed Nalwa as SPP for the NIA case.
He will represent the NIA before the NIA Special Court, Jammu, and the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
The appointment is for three years from the date of notification — or until the completion of the trial, or until the NIA is satisfied with his performance, whichever comes first.
The Chargesheet — Who Has Been Named
The NIA chargesheet names six individuals and two organisations for their role in planning, facilitating and executing the Baisaran meadows attack on April 22, 2025.
The two organisations named are:
— Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), headed by Hafiz Saeed, designated a global terrorist by both India and the United States
— The Resistance Front (TRF), LeT’s shadow outfit, headed by Habibullah Malik alias Sajid Jatt
Pakistani handler Sajid Jatt is also named as an individual accused in the chargesheet. Three Pakistani terrorists who carried out the killings — targeting victims on religious lines — are also named.
The NIA has traced what it described as a “deep conspiracy” to Pakistan, which the agency said has been “unabatedly sponsoring terrorism against India.”
What Happened at Pahalgam — April 22, 2025
Twenty-five tourists and a local pony operator were killed when terrorists opened fire at the Baisaran meadows near Pahalgam in South Kashmir on April 22, 2025. The attack sent shockwaves across the country and drew international condemnation. It was the single deadliest attack on civilians in the Kashmir Valley in over two decades.
The Baisaran meadows — a popular tourist destination accessible only by foot or pony — were crowded with visitors when the gunmen struck. Eyewitness accounts described attackers singling out victims on the basis of religion.
The Legal Road Ahead
With the chargesheet filed and the SPP now appointed, the Pahalgam case moves into the trial phase before the NIA Special Court in Jammu. Given the gravity of the charges — involving cross-border conspiracy, multiple murders, and two proscribed organisations — the trial is expected to be lengthy and closely watched.
The three-year appointment of Nalwa signals the government’s expectation that proceedings could be complex and prolonged.
Also read: HC rejects Punjab Plea on Poverty while Paying Full DA to IAS
North Desk is an independent digital news publication covering Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and the North Indian diaspora. This story will be updated as more details become available.
