Union Home Minister Amit Shah has asserted with certainty that the three terrorists eliminated in Operation Mahadev were indeed the perpetrators of the deadly Pahalgam attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians on April 22. Shah made this declaration in the Lok Sabha, providing a detailed account of the operation and the evidence linking the slain terrorists to the brutal massacre.
The three terrorists killed in the joint operation by the Indian Army, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir Police were identified as Suleman, Afghan, and Jibran, all members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Shah stated unequivocally that these individuals were directly involved in the Pahalgam terror attack. Suleman was identified as a commander of LeT. According to sources, all three were Pakistani nationals.
Operation Mahadev was launched following intelligence inputs regarding the presence of militants in the Harwan area near Dachigam National Park in Srinagar. Shah detailed that the operation commenced on May 22, 2025, with continuous efforts to confirm the information regarding the terrorists' location. From May to July 22, agencies worked to pinpoint their exact whereabouts. The operation itself took place on Monday in the Lidwas area.
Shah informed the Parliament that the identities of the terrorists were confirmed through multiple channels. Individuals who had previously supplied food and shelter to the terrorists were apprehended and brought in to identify the bodies. Furthermore, ballistic tests conducted at the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Chandigarh provided conclusive evidence. The weapons recovered from the slain terrorists were matched to those used in the Pahalgam attack. According to sources, the bullet casings from the weapons had a 99% match with those recovered from the Baisaran Valley, where the attack occurred. Shah emphasized that the M9 and AK-47s recovered from the terrorists had not been fired since the Pahalgam attack.
Shah also highlighted the extensive efforts undertaken during the investigation, revealing that over 1,000 individuals were questioned, including family members of the victims, tourists, pony operators, photographers, and local residents. Based on the information gathered, composite sketches were prepared, eventually leading to the identification of Bashir and Parvez as individuals who had harbored the terrorists.
The Home Minister condemned the barbaric nature of the Pahalgam attack, where innocent civilians were killed in front of their families after being asked about their religion. He expressed his condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. Shah also lauded the Indian Army, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir Police for their successful joint operation, emphasizing that it was a significant achievement for the nation.
The successful elimination of the Pahalgam attackers in Operation Mahadev is a testament to the unwavering commitment of Indian security forces to bring perpetrators of terror to justice. The operation not only avenges the lives lost in the brutal attack but also sends a strong message that terrorists will not be allowed to escape accountability for their heinous crimes.
