Srinagar, July 28, 2025 — Suleman Shah, the alleged mastermind behind the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, has reportedly been killed during a joint counter-terror operation conducted by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police.
According to a Hindustan Times report, the operation—codenamed “Operation Mahadev”—was launched early Monday morning following intelligence inputs about the presence of foreign terrorists in the Lidwas area near Dara, close to Dachigam National Park, approximately 20 kilometers from central Srinagar.
Security forces established contact with the militants around 11 AM, leading to a prolonged and intense gunfight in the rugged terrain between the Zabarwan and Mahadev ridges. The name of the operation is derived from this mountainous area.
The Indian Army’s Chinar Corps confirmed that three terrorists were neutralized during the firefight and additional reinforcements, along with aerial surveillance, were deployed to support ground forces.
Suleman Shah is believed to be one of the three militants killed, although official identification and confirmation are still pending. “It is a prolonged operation and is still continuing,” Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vidhi Kumar Birdi said. “We are observing three bodies that appear to be neutralized, but confirmation will follow once the operation is fully concluded.”
Security officials say that Shah’s group was traced to Dachigam following multiple intelligence reports over the past month. The anti-terror offensive follows an earlier alert that those responsible for the Pahalgam attack may have moved toward Srinagar’s outskirts.
The encounter in Harwan’s Mulnar area was preceded by gunfire on Monday morning, prompting a thorough cordon and search operation by security forces.
While no official statement has been released yet regarding the identity of the slain terrorists, sources suggest that a full briefing will be issued once the operation concludes and bodies are formally identified.
The killing of Suleman Shah marks a major breakthrough in counterterror efforts in the region and is being viewed as a significant success in dismantling the network behind the April massacre.
