AI Generated Summary
- The swift and decisive operation has been hailed as a significant morale booster for the security forces and a major blow to the terror infrastructure threatening peace in the Valley.
- In a major breakthrough in the fight against terrorism, security forces successfully neutralised three terrorists, including the alleged mastermind of the April Pahalgam massacre, during a high-intensity counter-terrorism mission named Operation Mahadev.
- He had reportedly played a leading role in planning and executing the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians in April this year.
In a major breakthrough in the fight against terrorism, security forces successfully neutralised three terrorists, including the alleged mastermind of the April Pahalgam massacre, during a high-intensity counter-terrorism mission named Operation Mahadev. The joint operation was led by the Army’s Chinar Corps, in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
The encounter took place in the dense forests of Lidwas, near Dachigam, after two days of continuous surveillance and search operations based on intercepted communications and intelligence inputs, including key information provided by local nomadic communities.
Among those killed was Hashim Musa, a top commander of the Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist group. He had reportedly played a leading role in planning and executing the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians in April this year. The other two slain militants are suspected to be Yasir and Hamza, also known by the alias Harris.
The gunfight began around 11:30 AM when a joint team comprising 24 Rashtriya Rifles and 4 PARA forces made contact with the terrorists. By 12:37 PM, drone reconnaissance confirmed the deaths of all three. Sources indicated the militants were caught off-guard while resting in a concealed hideout under dense foliage. The operatives, known for their stealth and rapid execution, took immediate action, eliminating the targets within minutes.
A senior officer involved in the mission revealed that the success came after nearly two weeks of sustained efforts. Security forces had been monitoring a suspected module linked to both Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, believed to consist of five to seven members. The three militants encountered on Monday had splintered from this larger group.
What triggered the operation was the detection of a lone Chinese satellite phone signal in the Baisaran area on July 11. This raised red flags and prompted security agencies to intensify surveillance across the Dachigam region. Intelligence reports and communication intercepts pointed to terrorist activity, which culminated in the Lidwas encounter.
Sources also suggested that the terrorists had been on the move for days, using temporary hideouts and maintaining radio silence to evade capture. However, fatigue and a false sense of security proved fatal when they chose to rest in a forested trench, where they were ultimately discovered.
The bodies of the terrorists are currently undergoing forensic identification. Authorities are working to confirm their involvement in the Pahalgam massacre, in which 26 unarmed tourists were mercilessly gunned down in front of their families.
The horrific April 22 attack in the Baisaran Valley had prompted a nationwide outcry and was followed by a robust cross-border counter-response. In Operation Sindoor, security forces demolished nine terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), reportedly killing over 100 militants.
Despite that strong retaliation, the pursuit of those directly responsible for the Pahalgam massacre remained a top priority. Monday’s encounter is being seen as a critical step toward dismantling the terror networks responsible for the attack.
Operation Mahadev remains ongoing as forces continue to comb through the forest terrain in search of additional suspects believed to be in hiding. Security officials remain vigilant, with fresh intelligence indicating the possibility of more militants operating in the wider Dachigam region.
The swift and decisive operation has been hailed as a significant morale booster for the security forces and a major blow to the terror infrastructure threatening peace in the Valley.
