In a significant breakthrough in the fight against cross-border terrorism, Indian security forces on Monday, July 28, gunned down three Pakistani terrorists near Srinagar during an intense encounter under Operation Mahadev. Two of the slain militants were directly involved in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
The encounter took place in the Lidwas area near Harwan, just as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh opened the debate on Operation Sindoor in Parliament. The anti-terror operation was conducted jointly by the Indian Army, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir Police, following precise intelligence inputs about militant movement in the forested region.
Among those neutralised was Suleiman Shah, a top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander and alleged mastermind of the Pahalgam massacre. Also known by the alias Hashim Moosa, Suleiman is a former Pakistan Army soldier and had a Rs 20 lakh bounty on his head announced by Jammu and Kashmir Police.
The other two terrorists have been identified as Abu Hamza and Yasir, both Pakistani nationals. Yasir is also believed to have played a role in the Pahalgam attack. According to security officials, all three were considered high-value targets.
The Indian Army’s Chinar Corps confirmed the operation via its official X (formerly Twitter) account, stating: “Three terrorists have been neutralised in an intense firefight. Operation continues.”
According to reports, the terrorists were hiding in a well-concealed forest hideout in the Mulnar area of Harwan. During the search of the site, forces recovered a cache of arms and ammunition, including AK-47 and carbine rifles, 17 rifle grenades, and other war-like stores.
