Operation Mahadev: Indian Army eliminates Pahalgam attack mastermind in Srinagar encounter

In a significant breakthrough nearly 97 days after the deadly Pahalgam attack on tourists, the Indian Army successfully neutralised three foreign terrorists in an encounter near Srinagar. The gunfight took place in Lidvas, situated between Lidvas and Mount Mahadev, in the forested outskirts of Srinagar. The operation, codenamed Operation Mahadev, was carried out based on specific intelligence inputs.

Also Read:BBMP elections: SC seeks timeline from Karnataka govt amid 10-year delay and delimitation issues

Among the terrorists killed was Hasim Musa, alias Suleiman Shah, a top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander and the mastermind behind the Pahalgam attack. He was also involved in the brutal killing of seven individuals on the Srinagar-Sonamarg highway last year. Security forces recovered a significant cache of arms, including 17 grenades, two AK-47 rifles, and an M-4 carbine from the site.

The encounter was led by Indian Army’s Chinar Corps, in coordination with the Jammu & Kashmir Police and CRPF. Drone surveillance confirmed the death of the three terrorists. The operation was launched around 11 AM after suspicious movement was detected in the Lidvas area. The forest zone where the encounter took place is known to be a route for infiltration from across the border.

Intelligence reports suggest that over 150 terrorists have infiltrated from Pakistan into Jammu & Kashmir recently, prompting intensified counter-insurgency efforts.