In a major breakthrough, security forces successfully wrapped up Operation Mahadev on Monday with the elimination of three foreign terrorists responsible for the brutal killing of 26 innocent civilians at Baisaran, Pahalgam. The operation was conducted at the sacred Mahadev Top, a revered site for Kashmiri Hindus and a symbol of faith, marking a decisive effort in bringing justice to the victims of the terror attack.
Following a thorough 95-day manhunt, intelligence agencies and security forces located the terrorists in the Zabbarwan range near Mahadev Peak, the highest point in Srinagar, rising over 13,000 feet. The encounter, which took place on Monday, resulted in the death of Suleiman alias Hashim Musa, Yasir, and Abu Hamza Afghani—terrorists linked to the Pakistan-based group ‘The Resistance Front’ (TRF), a shadow organization of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Suleiman, a Pakistani national and former Special Services Group (SSG) commando, was identified as the mastermind behind the Pahalgam attack.
This operation marks a turning point in the ongoing quest for justice since the devastating attack that claimed 26 lives. It comes after persistent efforts by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and Army’s 15 Corps, led by Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat and the Army’s Corps Commander. The forces had zeroed in on the terrorists after multiple failed attempts, narrowly missing them on five previous occasions in HapatNaar Pahalgam, Tral, Dachigam, and other remote forested areas.
DGP Nalin Prabhat personally oversaw the extensive surveillance and reconnaissance, visiting key locations from South to North Kashmir and Jammu—including Kishtwar, Rajouri, and Poonch—to ensure no stone was left unturned. Elite Para Commandos and Special Operations Groups (SOG) meticulously combed the dense forests, employing advanced intelligence techniques to track and eliminate the terrorists.
The sacred Mahadev Peak, revered by Kashmiri Pandits and the local community as the abode of Lord Shiva, provided not just a strategic vantage point but also a symbolic location for justice. The operation’s success underscores the relentless commitment of security forces to eradicate terror and restore peace in the region.
In a greeting message during Maha Shivratri celebrations earlier this year, DGP Prabhat had remarked, “When Shiva Protects You, Your Enemies Can’t Destroy You.” Today, that promise was fulfilled as the terrorists who executed the Pahalgam attack met their fate at the sacred Mahadev Top.
The terrorists eliminated on Monday, Suleiman Shah alias Hashim Musa, Yasir alias Jibran, and Abu Hamza Afghani, were involved in multiple terror attacks, including the Sonmarg Z-Morh tunnel attack in October 2024 and the attack on army personnel in Botapathri Gulmarg. Suleiman, a top LeT commander, a former Pakistani SSG Commando, and further trained at Lashkar’s Muridke headquarters in Pakistan, was considered the key conspirator behind the carnage at Baisaran. He is reported to have been involved with Yasir in the Sonmarg tunnel attack and was part of a top terrorist group of TRF in the forests of Dachigam, Srinagar.
Hamza Afghani, alias Abu Hamza, was also a foreign terrorist, likely of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or Afghan origin, and was linked to the Lashkar-e-Taiba module. His involvement in the Pahalgam attack is also suspected.
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