Srinagar
Three high-value Pakistani terrorists with connection to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attacks have been killed by the Army in a targeted operation in the Harwan area near Dachigam National Park on the outskirts of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.
The killed have been tentatively identified as Hashim Musa alias Suleiman, a former Pakistani special forces man, who had a major role in plotting the April 22 massacre of tourists in Pahalgam and his two associates belonging to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-toiba.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha confirmed the killing called Operation Mahadev, after the peak leading to a religious shrine, and said,"It is true that three Pakistani terrorists have been eliminated. The police administration will give full information about this... I congratulate the army, police and all those involved in this operation.”
Brother of Local Hero "Syed Adil Hussain Shah"
— IDU (@defencealerts) July 28, 2025
(Pony Rider Operator who died saving tourists in the #PahalgamTerrorAttack) thanks #IndianArmy & Indian Govt. pic.twitter.com/x4ecBOU11i
The anti-terror Operation Mahadev took place in the general area of Lidwas, Chinar Corps of Indian Army said.
"OP MAHADEV - Contact established in General Area Lidwas. Operation in progress" the Chinar Corp said in a previous post on X.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Zone) Vidhi Kumar Birdi said that the identification of the three terrorists killed in 'Operation Mahadev' was in process and will take some time.
"Operation is still continuing. As per the interior reports, three bodies have been observed and seem to be neutralised. It will take us some time for identification, and parties are still inside," IGP Birdi told media persons.
IGP Kashmir VK Birdi Talking About #Srinagar Encounter pic.twitter.com/walwLtD1ka
— Kashmir News Trust༝ (@kntnewsagency) July 28, 2025
The Operation was based on technical and other intelligence sources and culminated in an encounter at 13,000 ft height in rugged terrain. It's named after the nearby peak which houses a cave shrine of Lord Shiva.
The three terrorists were killed in an intense firefight with security forces in the Harwan area near Dachigam National Park of Srinagar on Monday morning.
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He said that the operation in the Harwan is still ongoing.