Operation Mahadev: All Three Terrorists Behind Pahalgam Attack Neutralised

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday informed the Lok Sabha that the three terrorists responsible for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, have been neutralised in a joint security operation.

Operation Mahadev: A Breakthrough Counter-Terror Mission

The operation, codenamed ‘Operation Mahadev’, was conducted jointly by the Indian Army, CRPF, and the Jammu and Kashmir Police, following a fortnight-long intelligence-driven pursuit. The mission specifically targeted three terrorists behind the Pahalgam massacre.

The tracking operation began nearly two weeks ago after intelligence agencies intercepted encrypted signals from a Huawei satellite phone in the Baisaran region of Kashmir. This breakthrough led to the identification and movement monitoring of the suspects in the rugged terrain of the Mahadev hills.

The slain terrorists were identified as Suleman, Afghan, and Jibran.

According to Shah, Suleman, also known by the alias Hashim Musa, was the mastermind of the attack. A former commando in Pakistan’s elite Special Service Group (SSG), Suleman later joined Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and is believed to have orchestrated multiple attacks across the valley.

Successful Elimination Confirmed

“All three terrorists — Suleman, Afghan, and Jibran — were killed in yesterday’s operation,” Shah told the Lok Sabha. He added that individuals who had been providing food and shelter to the terrorists had already been arrested. “After the encounter, the bodies were taken to Srinagar, where the arrested aides identified them without any doubt,” he said.

On July 22, their precise location was confirmed, prompting a coordinated strike by the security forces. A fierce encounter ensued on the outskirts of Srinagar, culminating in the elimination of all three foreign militants.

Forensic and Ballistic Confirmation

The Home Minister also shared details of the forensic investigation. The terrorists were armed with AK-47 rifles and M9 American carbines, the same types of weapons used in the April 22 attack.

Ballistic analysis confirmed a direct match between the shell casings found at the Pahalgam massacre site and the weapons recovered from the encounter scene. “Six scientists independently verified the findings. There is 100% certainty that the bullets were fired from these exact weapons,” Shah affirmed.

NIA and Intelligence Cooperation

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had earlier arrested the individuals responsible for aiding the attackers by providing logistics and shelter. These arrested individuals played a critical role in post-encounter identification, bolstering the credibility of the security operation.

Political Reactions and National Sentiment

In a strong message to the Opposition, Shah expressed disappointment over what he described as a lack of national solidarity. “I expected both sides of the House to celebrate this success as a victory for the nation. Unfortunately, the opposition seems unmoved,” he remarked.

Security analysts and officials hailed the operation as a major blow to cross-border terrorism and a testament to the precision and coordination of India’s counter-terrorism infrastructure.

Victims’ Families Respond

Relatives of those killed in the April 22 attack expressed bittersweet relief, acknowledging the operation as a step towards justice. Many, however, insisted that true justice would only be served with the complete dismantling of the cross-border terror machinery that continues to threaten peace in the region.

The successful operation comes three months and six days after the gruesome attack in Pahalgam, marking a major milestone in India’s ongoing fight against terrorism.