In a significant counter-terrorism operation, security forces in Jammu and Kashmir have neutralized a terrorist believed to be the mastermind behind the deadly Pahalgam attack that occurred on April 22, 2025. The operation, dubbed "Operation Mahadev," took place in the Lidwas area near Harwan, on the outskirts of Srinagar.
The slain terrorist has been identified as Suleiman Shah, also known as Hashim Musa, a Pakistani national and a member of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Sources report that Shah was a former commando in the Pakistan Army's elite Special Service Group (SSG) before joining the UN-designated terrorist organization led by Hafiz Saeed. He infiltrated India in September 2023 and initiated terror operations in South Kashmir. The Jammu and Kashmir Police had announced a reward of ₹20 lakh for information leading to his capture.
The April 22 attack in Pahalgam resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, 25 of whom were tourists visiting the Baisaran meadow. The attack sparked widespread condemnation and prompted a massive security response.
According to reports, the operation was launched following intelligence inputs indicating suspicious communication from deep within the Dachigam forests. Security forces caught the terrorists by surprise; they were reportedly napping inside a tent when the attack occurred. Besides Shah, two other Pakistani LeT terrorists were killed in the encounter. One of them has been identified as Jibran, who was involved in the attack on the Sonamarg Tunnel project at Gagangir in October 2024.
While the bodies of the terrorists have been recovered, the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police have stated that an official statement will be released once the operation concludes and the identification process is complete. Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Zone), Vidhi Kumar Birdi, said the identification of the three terrorists was underway and would take some time.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha congratulated the security forces for the successful operation. He stated that such operations have been ongoing for several months, jointly carried out by the J&K Police, Army, and CRPF, leading to the elimination of terrorists.
The killing of Suleiman Shah is considered a major success for the security forces. Security agencies suspect that the terrorists killed in the Dachigam encounter could also include those involved in the Pahalgam attack.
The incident took place near the Hindu shrine of Amarnath, where an annual pilgrimage has been underway since July 3, with over 350,000 people from across India participating.
