By Emeka Blast 
Key Mastermind of Pahalgam Attack Neutralized by Indian Forces in Operation Mahadev
In a decisive blow to cross-border terrorism, the Indian Army, alongside Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), neutralised three Pakistani terrorists, including the mastermind of the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack, during Operation Mahadev in the Lidwas area near Dachigam National Park, Srinagar, on Monday, July 28, 2025. The operation, hailed as a major victory by security forces, targeted Suleiman Shah, alias Hashim Musa Fauji, a former Pakistani Army Special Services Group (SSG) commando and top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander, who orchestrated the brutal attack that killed 26 civilians, mostly Hindu tourists, in Baisaran Valley.
The operation, launched after a 14-day intelligence-driven pursuit, began when a Chinese satellite phone signal was intercepted in the Dachigam forests on July 11, indicating terrorist activity linked to the Pahalgam massacre. Local nomads’ inputs and drone surveillance helped pinpoint the hideout, where a joint team of 24 Rashtriya Rifles and 4 Para Commandos caught the terrorists off-guard in a makeshift trench. By 12:37 p.m., the Chinar Corps confirmed contact with the militants, and within an hour, drone footage verified the elimination of three high-value targets: Suleiman, Abu Hamza (alias Harris), and Yasir. Recovered items included an M4 carbine, two AK-47 rifles, 17 grenades, and materials linking the trio to the Pahalgam attack, per security sources.
Suleiman, also known as Musa Fauji, was identified as the key planner who led the Falcon Squad, a unit of The Resistance Front (TRF), an LeT proxy initially claiming the attack before retracting due to public backlash. Indian authorities allege Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) backed the operation, with Suleiman’s team infiltrating via the LoC in 2022 to target tourism and incite communal violence post-Article 370 abrogation. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had arrested locals Parvaiz and Bashir Ahmad Jothar for providing shelter, but they claimed ignorance of the attack plans.
The operation, named after the Mahadev Peak near the encounter site, unfolded amid parliamentary debates on Operation Sindoor, India’s May 2025 retaliatory strikes that destroyed nine terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, addressing the Lok Sabha, praised the forces, stating, “Operation Mahadev delivers justice for Pahalgam’s victims.” Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah welcomed the outcome, saying, “If even one terrorist is killed, it’s a step forward.” Social media erupted, with @IndiaWarZone posting, “Main accused behind Pahalgam attack eliminated under Operation Mahadev,” and @DharmaShield noting the operation’s precision.
The encounter, which continues as forces search for remaining operatives, marks a significant step in dismantling LeT’s network in Kashmir. Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Zone) VK Birdi cautioned that identifying the terrorists’ full roles awaits forensic verification, but sources confirm Suleiman’s involvement in prior attacks, including the 2024 Z-Morh tunnel killings.
