As Defence Minister Rajnath Singh opened the debate on Operation Sindoor in Parliament, security forces achieved a significant breakthrough on Monday by eliminating three Pakistani terrorists in an encounter near Srinagar. Among them were two terrorists linked to the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
Suleiman Shah, a Lashkar-e-Taiba operative and the alleged mastermind of the Pahalgam terror attack, was confirmed to be among those neutralised. Security sources said the operation — codenamed Operation Mahadev — also led to the killing of two other terrorists: Abu Hamza and Yasir. Yasir is also believed to have played a role in the Pahalgam killings.
The joint anti-terror operation was carried out by personnel from the Indian Army, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir Police in the Lidwas area.
Suleiman, who previously served in the Pakistan Army, was also known by the alias Hashim Moosa. Following the Pahalgam attack in Baisaran Valley, the J&K Police had announced a ₹20 lakh reward for information leading to his capture.
The official X handle of the Indian Army’s Chinar Corps earlier announced the launch of Operation Mahadev in the Lidwas area. “Three terrorists have been neutralised in an intense firefight. Operation continues,” the Army said, noting that the operation is still underway.
All three terrorists were reportedly “high-value” targets. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, security forces launched the operation in the Mulnar region of Harwan. Additional reinforcements were dispatched to the area, and a thorough combing operation is currently in progress.
Initial assessments suggest the terrorists were preparing for a major attack in Jammu and Kashmir. (Sources)
