Srinagar (National Times): In a major breakthrough in India’s counter-terrorism efforts, the mastermind of the Pahalgam terror attack was gunned down along with two other Pakistani terrorists during a high-intensity encounter in Srinagar’s Dachigam region, officials confirmed. The mission, dubbed ‘Operation Mahadev’, was led jointly by the Indian Army and Jammu & Kashmir Police.
The primary target, identified as Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Suleiman Shah, also known by his alias Hashim Musa, was reportedly the brains behind the Pahalgam attack, which claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians. Intelligence agencies had been tracking Musa’s movement for weeks.
Sources also linked him to a previous targeted killing of seven workers involved in the construction of the Z-Morh tunnel on the Srinagar-Sonmarg highway last year, further solidifying his role as a key operative in Lashkar’s Kashmir operations.
Precision Strike in Rugged Terrain
According to military sources, the confrontation unfolded in the Mount Mahadev area nestled between the Zabarwan and Mahadev ridgelines in Srinagar. Acting on intercepted communication in early July, forces began tracking a group of foreign terrorists believed to be part of a Lashkar-Jaish hybrid module. Local nomads later corroborated their presence deep in the forested Dachigam region.
Over the next 14 days, multiple teams narrowed down the location of the suspects. On Monday at around 11:30 AM, a team from the 24 Rashtriya Rifles and 4 PARA managed to identify and surround the trio. Through a covert approach and superior tactical coordination, all three were neutralised in a swift and decisive firefight.
Weapons Cache Recovered
Following the encounter, forces recovered a significant cache of arms from the terrorists’ hideout, including:
- 17 grenades
- One M4 carbine
- Two AK-47 assault rifles
This haul further reinforces the sophistication and deadly intent of the group.
Identification & Investigation Underway
The process of formal identification of the deceased terrorists is ongoing. However, intelligence officials maintain high confidence that Suleiman Shah was among those killed. Once the identities are officially confirmed, this would mark a major closure in the ongoing investigation into the Pahalgam massacre.
Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is overseeing the broader probe, had earlier arrested two local men, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad, on charges of sheltering the Pahalgam attackers. Their interrogation reportedly yielded key leads, further helping agencies close in on the cross-border network.
Strategic Significance
Operation Mahadev represents yet another example of India’s sharpened response to terrorism, particularly in high-altitude and forested conflict zones. Security experts have lauded the operation for its intelligence-led execution and minimal collateral damage.
Officials have reiterated that the mission’s naming, ‘Mahadev’, was drawn from the terrain where the confrontation occurred and should not be viewed through a religious or political lens.
With Operation Mahadev, authorities have not only avenged a horrific terror strike but have also sent a stern message to handlers across the border: there will be consequences for bloodshed on Indian soil.
