Op Mahadev: Pahalgam Mastermind Suleiman Shah Among 3 Slain Terrorists

Security forces on Monday neutralised three terrorists, including Suleiman Shah, the mastermind of the Pahalgam terror attack, during a joint encounter near Srinagar.

The operation took place in the rugged Lidwas region near Dara, close to Dachigam National Park.

Acting on precise intelligence, the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police launched Operation Mahadev.

The Srinagar-based Chinar Corps confirmed the killings, stating on X (formerly Twitter), “OP MAHADEV – Update Three terrorist have been neutralised in an intense firefight. Operation Continues.”

Sources confirmed that Suleiman Shah, also known as Hashim Moosa, was among the dead. He had orchestrated the Pahalgam terror attack on 22 April, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists.

Shah previously served in the Pakistan Army and later joined the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

Following the Baisaran attack, the Jammu and Kashmir Police had announced a ₹20 lakh reward for credible leads on his location.

He was believed to have been hiding in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district after the attack. Security agencies had been tracking his movements over the past several weeks.

Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone, Vidhi Kumar Birdi, said the operation was still ongoing. “It is a prolonged operation involving police, paramilitary, and the army. Three bodies have been spotted and appear to be neutralised,” he told reporters.

Birdi refrained from sharing further details, stating that the identification process was underway and security teams remained inside the operational zone. The forces are expected to provide more information once the operation concludes.

The neutralisation of Suleiman Shah is seen as a major breakthrough in the investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack.

Also Read: Two Terrorists Killed In Anti-Terror Operation In J&K’s Dachigam