Operation Mahadev: How India eliminated 3 Pahalgam terrorists before they could flee to Pakistan

E-PaperSubscribeSubscribeEnjoy unlimited accessSubscribe Now! Get features like A couple of months after 26 innocent people were killed in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, the Indian Army carried out an operation, eliminating terrorists linked with the attack. The encounter, codenamed ‘Operation Mahadev’, took place in the forested Lidwas area near Harwan, on the outskirts of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. (AFP/Representational)The counter-terrorism success was announced by union home minister Amit Shah in the Parliament, who said that the operation was carried out jointly by the Army, CRPF and the Jammu and Kashmir Police on July 28. Shah identified the three terrorists as Suleman, Hamza Afghani (Afghan) and Zibran. The encounter, codenamed ‘Operation Mahadev’, took place in the forested Lidwas area near Harwan, on the outskirts of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. Here's everything we know about the operation and how the army eliminated the mastermind of the Pahalgam attack. Among the three terrorists killed in the operation, Suleman was an ‘A’ category commander of LeT, and was involved in the terrorist attacks in Pahalgam and Gagangir. Union home minister Shah had identified him as the mastermind of the Pahalgam terror attack. Afghan and Jibran were also category ‘A’ terrorists of LeT who were also involved in the killings of innocent civilians in Baisaran Valley. Following the tragic incident on April 22, a security meeting was held a day after, attended by all the security forces, Army, CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police. It was then decided that the terrorists involved in the Pahalgam terror attack should not leave the country and flee to Pakistan, Shah said, adding that arrangements were made to prevent the attackers from escaping. The first credible piece of information regarding the terrorists wad received a month after the incident on May 22, 2025. The Intelligence Bureau (IB) received received inputs regarding the presence of terrorists in the Dachigam area through a human intelligence, according to a press release by the ministry of home affairs. Over the following month, the bureau and Army made coordinated efforts to confirm this information by using equipment made by agencies to capture ultra signals in the Dachigam area, Shah said. “Our officers and jawans of IB, Army and CRPF kept moving on foot in the cold and high altitudes to receive their signals,” he added. These efforts succeeded on July 22 when one of the terrorists' signals was caught in the sensors, and their presence in the area was confirmed. The CRPF, personnel from Jammu and Kashmir Police, under the leadership of 4 Para, then surrounded and eliminated the three terrorists. The National Investigation Agency (NIA), after the Pahalgam attack, arrested some locals who had given shelter to these three terrorists, Amit Shah had told the House last year. Therefore, when the bodies of the three terrorists were brought to Srinagar, the four arrested persons identified them and confirmed that they had carried out the Pahalgam attack. Apart from the terrorists, the rifles used for the attack were also confirmed on the basis of the FSL report of the cartridges found in Pahalgam after the terror incident. The three rifles seized from the terrorists in Dachigam were taken to Chandigarh by a special plane and their empty shells generated by firing. Following this, the shells found after the Pahalgam attack were matched with the barrel of the rifles and the shells that came out after the firing, confirming the use of the three rifles seized in Dachigam. Arya Mishra is a Content Producer at Hindustan Times, based in New Delhi, and a key member of the digital news team focusing on urgent breaking developments across India and the world. With a sharp editorial instinct and strong reporting skills, Arya covers high-impact crime incidents, public safety and justice issues, political developments, education policy and international affairs, consistently delivering clear, accurate and timely journalism. Her recent reporting highlights include detailed coverage of serious criminal cases, politics as well as analyses of national education reforms and international diplomatic moves. On the world news front, she has written about global trade policy changes and security developments, including tariff shifts by the United States and strategic counter-terrorism strategies being rolled out by Ministry of Home Affairs. Arya thrives in fast-paced environments – running live blogs, crafting in-depth explainers and real-time news coverage that keeps readers informed as stories evolve. Before joining Hindustan Times, she was a part of The Indian Express online team. Outside the newsroom, she is an avid reader, with a love for thriller and suspense fiction, and enjoys music as a way to unwind. With more than three years of experience in dynamic newsrooms, Arya brings curiosity, clarity and commitment to every story she covers.Read More