Operation Mahadev News: At least three militants were killed in the Dachigam forest area on the outskirts of Srinagar, the Army said on Monday. While the identities of the dead are yet to be officially declared, officials from various security agencies said they are in the process of ascertaining whether one of them is Suleiman Shah, a Pakistani terrorist suspected of being behind the April 22 Pahalgam attack that left 26 civilians dead. In a post on X at 1:32 pm, the Army’s Chinar Corps wrote: “Op Mahadev update: Three terrorists have been neutralised in an intense firefight. Operation continues.” The Northern Command posted in response: “Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, #ArmyCdrNC compliments Chinar Corps for their swift action and precise execution in neutralising three terrorists in the ongoing Operation Mahadev in Lidwas. Indian Army stands by its commitment to keep Jammu and Kashmir terror-free.” As speculation stirred over the identities of the three men, the Kashmir Zone Police posted at 8:16 pm: “The identification of the neutralised terrorists is being done! Please await further details.” Sources in J&K said identification was taking time, and it was possible one of the three terrorists killed was Suleiman Shah. But since NIA was investigating the case, the police would wait for it to confirm. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, meanwhile, said the “police will provide all details regarding the operation”. “Several such kinetic operations are being conducted by the J&K Police, Army and CAPFs. I congratulate the security forces for this successful operation,” he said. As reported by The Indian Express last month, the National Investigation Agency had concluded that all three Pahalgam attackers were from Pakistan. This was a departure from what was previously believed about the identities of the attackers. Two days after the attack, the J&K police had released three sketches — Pakistan nationals Hashim Musa and Ali Bhai alias Talha, and Kashmir local Adil Hussain Thoker. Sources in the NIA had, however, said the three men in the sketches are not the Pahalgam attackers. According to NIA officials, one of the attackers, Suleiman Shah alias Musa, was also involved in the Z-Morh tunnel attack on October 20 last year. PTI quoted officials as saying that the Army launched the operation in the forests of Harwan following a technical signal that was similar to the device used by terrorists in Pahalgam. According to the Army, after an early cordon and search operation in the upper reaches of Harwan, contact was established as initial firing ensued between militants and security forces. The last major encounters to take place in the Kashmir region were in the Shopian and Awantipora areas of South Kashmir in May, with three militants killed in each. One M4 carbine rifle, two AK rifles and other munitions were recovered from the site. Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Zone) V K Birdi said the operation is still underway. "Three bodies have been sighted. It will be premature to comment on other details," Birdi said, adding that full details will be made public after the operation is over. — With PTI Inputs
