In a major breakthrough, security forces on Monday killed the mastermind of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack along with two of his associates in an encounter in Dachigam forest area in Harwan in outskirts of Srinaga.
Sources have identified the slain Pakistani terrorist as Sulieman alias Hashim Musa, who is believed to be the mastermind of the April 22 attack.
“He was among three terrorists killed in a surprise operation named ‘Operation Mahadev’ launched police army in collaboration with police and paramilitary forces in the upper reaches of Dachigam forest area today following a technical signal indicating use of a satellite phone that was used by the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack,” they said.
The other terrorists killed in the encounter have been identified as Jibran — who was allegedly involved in the Sonamarg Tunnel attack last year — and Hamza Afghani.
On April 22, terrorists attacked tourists at Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam killing 25 tourists and a local ponywaya. The Indian military avenged the attack on May 7 by launching Operation Sindoor to target and destroy terror camps in Pakistan and PoK.
Sources said Jibran was allegedly involved in last year’s terror strike at the Sonamarg tunnel project at Gagangir in October last year. Seven people, including a doctor, were killed in the attack.
“One M4 carbine rifle, two AK rifles and other munitions were recovered from the encounter site today. The bodies of the slain terrorists have been handed over to local police,” sources said.
However, there has been no official confirmation yet about the killing of Pahalgam terror attack mastermind in the Harwan encounter.
Police said the identity of the slain terrorists was being ascertained.
Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Zone) V K Birdi said it was a long-drawn operation which was going on till the last reports.
Earlier, Srinagar-based Chinar Corps in a post on X said three terrorists were killed under Operation Mahadev. “Three terrorists have been neutralised in an intense firefight. Operation Continues,” the Chinar Corps of the Army said.
Director General of Police Nilin Prabhat commended the security forces for the operation and said all the three were Pakistanis.
After the Pahalgam attack, police had announced Rs 20 lakh reward on anyone providing information about Suleman and two others. Several anti-militancy operations were launched in a vast forest area of south and central Kashmir to trace the attackers.