3 terrorists killed in 'Operation Mahadev' in J&K's Dachigam

Three terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in the Dachigam area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar district on Monday, according to IANS.

The joint operation, named Operation Mahadev, was launched in the higher reaches of Dachigam National Park, near the Mahadev peak in the Harwan area, based on specific intelligence inputs.

Troops from the Indian Army, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir Police participated in the operation. "The operation is still going on in the area," an army official said.

Suleiman Shah, a Lashkar-e-Taiba operative and the key planner behind the April 22 Pahalgam massacre, was among those killed, reported NDTV. The other two terrorists neutralised in the operation were identified as Abu Hamza and Yasir. NDTV reported that Yasir, too, was involved in the Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives.

Acting on intelligence inputs, security forces launched the operation early Monday. Due to the dense population in the surrounding areas and the difficult terrain, reinforcements were promptly deployed.

“The anti-terrorist operation was started following intelligence inputs. Reinforcements were rushed to the spot as the area is densely populated and the terrain under operation is tough,” an official said.

Over the past several months, security forces have intensified counter-terror operations across the Union Territory, not only targeting militants but also cracking down on Over Ground Workers (OGWs) and sympathisers in a bid to dismantle the larger terror ecosystem.

Since 2019, under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, the scope of anti-terror operations has widened significantly, with authorities targeting all actors — armed or otherwise — that support extremist activities. This strategic shift marks a broader and more aggressive approach to internal security in Jammu and Kashmir.

The crackdown has further intensified after the April 22 terror attack in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam, carried out by Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists. The brutal assault, which killed 26 people, sparked widespread national outrage.

In response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi granted the armed forces full operational freedom to retaliate. The Indian military subsequently conducted precision strikes on terror infrastructure deep within Pakistan, reportedly destroying nine terrorist camps.

Pakistan retaliated with cross-border shelling, targeting both military and civilian sites in Jammu’s Poonch district. The attack resulted in the destruction of several civilian homes and religious structures, including a temple, a gurdwara, and a church. Reports indicated that at least 18 Pakistani military installations were damaged during the exchange.