Srinagar: A major counter-terror operation in the Dachigam region of Srinagar led to the elimination of three foreign militants, including the alleged mastermind behind the recent Pahalgam terror attack, according to official sources.
The joint operation, codenamed Operation Mahadev, was carried out by personnel from the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
Among those killed was Suleiman Shah, also known as Musa Fauji, a senior commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Security agencies believe he orchestrated the Pahalgam attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians, many of whom were tourists.
Musa Fauji was also reportedly behind the killing of seven workers engaged in the construction of the Z-Morh tunnel on the Srinagar–Sonmarg highway in 2024.
The encounter unfolded near the Mount Mahadev area, between the Zabarwan and Mahadev ridges, where intelligence inputs had indicated the presence of foreign militants. The operation’s name is believed to have been inspired by this terrain.
Sources revealed that earlier this month, the Army had intercepted suspicious radio communications from within the Dachigam forests.
This was followed by a 14-day surveillance operation tracking a group comprising Lashkar and Jaish-e-Mohammed operatives. Inputs from local nomads also proved critical in pinpointing the terrorists’ location.
At approximately 11:30 am on Monday, a special unit comprising 24 Rashtriya Rifles and 4 PARA commandos located and engaged the terrorists, neutralising all three in a swift tactical operation.
The forces recovered 17 grenades, an M4 carbine, and two AK-47 rifles from the militants’ hideout.
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The process of confirming the identities of the deceased is ongoing. Investigators believe this will help officially link the slain militants to the Pahalgam attack.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is heading the broader probe, had earlier arrested two local residents, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad, for allegedly sheltering the attackers.
The attack in Pahalgam, a popular tourist spot often referred to as “mini Switzerland,” stunned the nation.
Witnesses reported that the terrorists targeted male victims and specifically sought out non-Muslims during the assault.
