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Op Mahadev: Pahalgam Attack Revenge! How Security Forces Caught Terrorists Off Guard

Op Mahadev: Pahalgam Attack Revenge! How Security Forces Caught Terrorists Off Guard

Inside details of Op Mahadev - How the security forces tracked and hunted down the mastermind of Pahalgam terror attack (Image Courtesy: RNA)

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  • Published July 29, 2025 10:46 am
  • Last Updated July 29, 2025

It was indeed a bloody Monday (July 28) and security forces cracked down on terror heavily, neutralizing 3 terrorists in an encounter in Harwan near Dachigam in Jammu and Kashmir. An even bigger victory came to light among those the terrorists killed was Suleiman Shah, who is believed to be the mastermind of the gruesome Pahalgam attack.

Interestingly, the development came at the time when political leaders started discussing Operation Sindoor, the retaliatory strikes launched to avenge the April 22 attack on innocent civilians in Pahalgam Valley, a popular tourist hotspot.

How Operation Mahadev served justice?

Launched in the early hours on Monday, security forces initiated ‘Operation Mahadev’ to crack down on terrorists, acting on intelligence inputs. Indian Army and J&K Police, in the joint operation, killed 3 terrorists in an encounter that was planned meticulously for several days before execution.

With this, the security forces have avenged the Pahalgam attack as they also neutralized the Pahalgam terror attack mastermind, Suleiman Shah, alias Hashim Musa.

The Srinagar encounter started around 11 am in the Lidwas area near Dara, close to Dachigam National Park. The security forces acted after receiving a tip-off indicating the presence of foreign terrorists in the region. The other 2 terrorists killed in the gunfight have been identified as Jibran, allegedly involved in the Sonamarg Tunnel attack last year, and Hamza Afghani.

Who was Suleiman Shah and how danger was he?

While Pahalgam attack mastermind itself conveys a lot, Shah was a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist and a former commando of the Pakistan Army’s elite unit – Special Service Group (SSG). After the Pahalgam attack, the Jammu and Kashmir Police declared a Rs 20 lakh reward for information on his whereabouts.

After serving the Pak army’s SSG unit, Shah had joined UN-designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed’s LeT to carry out terror activities, according to a report in NDTV.

Operation Mahadev: What’s behind the name and how was it planned?

Everything our forces do is a strategic move and so was the choice behind the codename Operation Mahadev. It is named after Mahadev Peak in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar, which is part of the Zabarwan Range. The peak is not just a popular trekking route; it is also revered.

Reportedly, the slain terrorists had a hideout in the dense forests in the foothills of Mahadev peak. Forces started with their operation 2 days prior to the D-Day, after receiving credible inputs and intercepting some suspicious communication from inside the Dachigam forests.

What actually gave off the terrorists’ location is believed to a satellite phone call they made 2 days back. Deccan Herald reported, citing sources, that it was a Huawei satellite phone which was perhaps used by the attackers for the Pahalgam attack. However, it went silent immediately after the attack.

While the agencies had been tracking its signal since, they finally received a signal 2 days back when the phone was used once again. The location was traced to a remote patch of Dachigam forest.

What’s even more interesting in the case is that the security forces caught the terrorists completely off guard while they were napping in a tent, an India Today report said. Operation Mahadev was carried out by the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

Meanwhile, the process to determine the identity of the terrorists is still underway.

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Written By
RNA Desk

RNA Desk is the collective editorial voice of RNA, delivering authoritative news and analysis on defence and strategic affairs. Backed by deep domain expertise, it reflects the work of seasoned editors committed to credible, impactful reporting.

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