Sulieman, also known as Asif, who was believed to be the mastermind behind the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, was killed in a fierce encounter with security forces on Monday. He was killed along with two other terrorists during a joint operation by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police.
The joint operation, named “Operation Mahadev”, took place in the Lidwas area near Dara, close to Dachigam National Park, around 11 am after security forces received information about the presence of foreign terrorists in the area.
The name “Operation Mahadev” comes from the location of the gunfight, which happened between the Zabarwan and Mahadev ridges.
The other two terrorists killed were identified as Jibran, who was involved in last year’s Sonamarg Tunnel attack, and Hamza Afghani.
The Army’s Chinar Corps confirmed that all three terrorists were neutralized in an intense gunfight. Extra troops and surveillance were sent in to assist the forces on the ground.
Over the past month, intelligence reports had suggested that the terrorists involved in the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 tourists in the Baisaran valley, had moved to the Dachigam area, about 20 km from central Srinagar.
Earlier on Monday morning, security forces launched another anti-terror operation in the Mulnar area of Harwan based on intelligence inputs. Gunshots were heard during searches in the area.
Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, confirmed the operation’s success and said:
“Three Pakistani terrorists have been killed. The police will share full details soon. I congratulate the army, police, and everyone involved in this successful operation.”
This joint effort by the Army and Police is being seen as a big step in the fight against terrorism in the region.
