Pahalgam Attack Mastermind Killed in Major Srinagar Encounter

 In a significant victory for India’s counter-terror operations, the Indian Army on Sunday successfully eliminated three heavily armed terrorists in Srinagar during Operation Mahadev. Among the neutralized was the mastermind behind the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that shook the nation in April 2025.

The gunfight broke out near Dara in the Lidwas area, adjacent to the Dachigam National Park, a dense forested terrain often used by militants as a transit route. Based on actionable intelligence, elite teams from the Indian Army, J&K Police, and CRPF launched a precision operation early in the morning. A heavy exchange of fire ensued, leading to the neutralization of three Pakistani terrorists believed to be affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its proxy group, The Resistance Front (TRF).

The Key Target: Hashim Musa

One of the slain militants has been identified as Hashim Musa alias Suleiman Shah, the chief planner of the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists and pilgrims. Musa, a known Pakistani national with links to the ISI and LeT, had been operating under deep cover and was one of India’s most wanted terrorists with a ₹20 lakh bounty on his head.

Symbolic and Strategic Importance

The location of the operation—Mahadev Peak area—holds religious significance for Kashmiri Hindus. Conducting a successful strike in this terrain before the Sawan pilgrimage not only demonstrates operational excellence but also sends a strong message against the misuse of religious routes for terrorism.

Security forces hailed the success as a "decisive blow to cross-border terror infrastructure", especially as it follows the Parliament’s renewed national security dialogue after the Pahalgam massacre.