SRINAGAR– A former Pakistani soldier-turned-terrorist believed to have masterminded the brutal Pahalgam terror attack was among three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives killed in a fierce encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar district on Monday, officials confirmed.
The encounter, dubbed “Operation Mahadev,” unfolded in the upper reaches of Dachigam National Park near Mahadev Peak in the Harwan area. It came just hours after the Lok Sabha began debating the Pahalgam attack and the broader counterterrorism response known as “Operation Sindoor,” aimed at dismantling terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Security forces involved in the joint operation—including the Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and J&K Police—identified all three slain terrorists as Pakistani nationals affiliated with LeT. Among them was Suleiman Shah, a former member of the Pakistan Army, also known by the alias Hashim Moosa. He was identified as the mastermind of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley, which left 26 people dead.
“Suleiman, along with Abu Hamza and Jabran, were neutralized in today’s operation,” an official said. “Jabran is also believed to have directly participated in the Pahalgam massacre.”
Following the Pahalgam attack, J&K Police had announced a ₹20 lakh reward for information leading to Suleiman’s capture. Acting on intelligence inputs, security forces launched a high-risk operation in the rugged and densely forested Dachigam terrain. Additional reinforcements were deployed to contain the situation and minimize civilian risk.
Since 2019, under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, anti-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir have expanded beyond simply eliminating militants. The new approach emphasizes dismantling the broader ecosystem of terror—targeting not only armed operatives but also Over Ground Workers (OGWs) and ideological sympathizers.
In response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack, Indian security forces intensified their counterterrorism campaign using advanced technology and enhanced human intelligence to thwart future attacks.
The Pahalgam massacre sparked nationwide outrage, prompting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to grant the armed forces full operational freedom to retaliate. The Indian military conducted precise, cross-border strikes, reportedly destroying nine terror bases deep within Pakistani territory.
Pakistan responded by targeting both military and civilian sites across the border, including religious sites such as a temple, gurdwara, and church in Jammu’s Poonch district. In the exchange, 18 Pakistani military installations were reportedly damaged. (Source: IANS)
