SRINAGAR – In a major breakthrough for India’s counter-terrorism efforts, three Pakistani terrorists affiliated with the banned outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were killed in a high-intensity encounter in the Lidwas forest area near Harwan on the outskirts of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday. The operation, codenamed “Operation Mahadev,” was carried out by a joint team of the Indian Army, CRPF, and J&K Police, based on actionable intelligence inputs and technical surveillance.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed the success of the operation during a Parliament session on Tuesday, stating that the three slain terrorists — Suleiman, Afghan, and Jibran — were involved in the recent Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians. Shah described Suleiman as the mastermind behind the heinous act. The identities of the terrorists were verified by individuals previously arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for aiding and sheltering the attackers.
Encounter Details
The operation began around 11:00 AM on Monday when the joint security team detected suspicious movement in the Mulnar area of Harwan. The elite 24 Rashtriya Rifles and 4 Para unit immediately launched a cordon and search operation, leading to an intense gunbattle with the terrorists.
All three terrorists were neutralized after a prolonged firefight. Among them was Jibran, reportedly linked to the October 2023 Sonamarg Tunnel attack, which had resulted in multiple casualties, including that of a doctor.
Weapons and Evidence Recovered
Security forces recovered a cache of sophisticated arms and ammunition, including:
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One M4 Commando carbine
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Two AK-series rifles
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War-like stores, documents, and personal items suggesting a long-term infiltration plan.
The use of foreign-made weapons has further strengthened suspicions of a well-established cross-border logistics and support network aiding such terrorist operations.
Surveillance and Coordination
The security forces relied on drone surveillance and ground intelligence to track and target the terrorists in the rugged terrain near Dachigam National Park. The use of a highly encrypted communication signal, similar to the one detected during the Pahalgam massacre, helped pinpoint their location.
SSP Srinagar GV Sundeep Chakravarty confirmed that all three terrorists were Pakistani nationals. However, he noted that full forensic verification would conclusively establish their roles in the Pahalgam attack.
Strategic Significance
Operation Mahadev is believed to be part of a larger strategy to dismantle foreign terror networks and sleeper cells operating in the Kashmir Valley. Sources said the operation sends a strong message that India will respond swiftly and decisively to any cross-border terrorism threats.
The Chinar Corps of the Indian Army announced the success of the operation on social media platform X, stating, “Three terrorists have been neutralised in an intense firefight. Operation continues.”
Kashmir Zone Inspector General of Police VK Birdi described the encounter as a “long-drawn operation”, emphasizing the complexity and coordination involved.
With Operation Mahadev, India has once again demonstrated its enhanced counter-terror capabilities and reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism.
