In a significant development regarding national security, Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed in Parliament that the three terrorists responsible for the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 have been neutralized. This operation, termed Operation Mahadev, was executed in Jammu and Kashmir just a day prior to Shah’s address. Naming the terrorists as Suleiman, Afghani, and Gibran, he identified them as senior operatives of the Pakistan-backed terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Shah reported that these individuals were directly involved in the brutal killing of 26 civilians in the Baisaran Valley. He lauded the collaborative efforts of the Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Jammu and Kashmir Police in carrying out the operation that led to their elimination.
Following the attack, Shah rushed to Srinagar to oversee high-level security reviews, ensuring that the terrorists could not escape across the Line of Control. His proactive measures were backed by intelligence reports from the Intelligence Bureau, which, on May 22, indicated the presence of the terrorists in Dachigam, near Srinagar. This intelligence led to a coordinated operation launched on July 22, culminating in the successful neutralization of all three suspects.
During his address, Shah provided detailed forensic evidence linking these individuals to the Pahalgam attack. He highlighted that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had previously arrested locals who had harbored the terrorists, leading to the identification of the deceased. The operation also recovered weapons, including an M9 and two AK-47s, which underwent ballistic analysis, confirming a definitive match with bullet shells found at the attack site.
In a particularly striking revelation, Shah mentioned that among the recovered belongings were Pakistani voter IDs for two of the terrorists along with chocolate wrappers produced in Pakistan. He emphasized that this evidence strongly indicated their origin from across the border, challenging the skepticism of senior Congress leader P Chidambaram regarding Pakistan’s involvement in the incident.
Shah expressed disappointment over the lack of support from the Opposition, stating, “The killers of our citizens are dead, but some in the House are not happy. This is shameful.” He underscored Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership in the operation, asserting that security forces had finally brought the perpetrators to justice.
The announcement was met with applause from members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while members of the Opposition voiced their protests. This incident underscores the ongoing challenges of terrorism in the region and the government’s commitment to ensuring justice and security for its citizens.
