Srinagar: In a big counter-terrorism breakthrough for India, Hashim Musa — former Pakistani Army Special Forces operative and Pahalgam terror attack mastermind — was killed on Monday in an encounter with security forces in the Dachigam region near Srinagar. The Indian Army, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir Police jointly conducted Operation Mahadev, following a specific intelligence alert in the Mulnar area of Harwan.
Musa was among the three high-value terrorists that Indian forces gunned down in the encounter.
Pahalgam terror attack mastermind Hashim Musa killed
Hashim Musa, also known by the alias Suleiman, was a former Pakistani Army Special Forces operative and was identified as the mastermind behind the Pahalgam terror attack. 26 people, most of them tourists, were killed in a mass shooting incident in Pahalgam on April 22.
The high-risk mission, codenamed Operation Mahadev, was launched after actionable intelligence suggested the presence of militants in the Lidwas area. Indian Army Special Forces led the charge and neutralised Musa during an intense firefight.
Operation Mahadev underway
“Three terrorists have been neutralised in an intense firefight. Operation Continues,” read a post by the Chinar Corps on social media platform X. Reports suggest that two more terrorists may be injured, and efforts to track them are ongoing. Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, Northern Army Commander, praised the Chinar Corps for their swift and precise execution in eliminating the threats during Operation Mahadev.
Weapons cache recovered
All three slain militants are believed to be Pakistani nationals. Security forces recovered their bodies along with a significant cache of weapons, including an American-made carbine, an AK-47 rifle, 17 rifle grenades, and other military-grade equipment.