Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday informed Parliament that the three terrorists responsible for the brutal April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, have been killed in a high-level counterterror operation codenamed ‘Operation Mahadev’.
Addressing the Lok Sabha during the ongoing debate on Operation Sindoor, Mr. Shah stated that the terrorists, Suleiman, Afghan, and Gibran, were neutralized on Monday in a joint operation conducted by the Indian Army, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir Police.
“I want to tell the Parliament and the nation that those who murdered our citizens in Baisaran Valley—these three were among them—and they have been killed,” Shah said, congratulating the security forces for their success in the operation.
According to the Home Minister, Suleiman was a top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander, and security agencies have confirmed his involvement in the Pahalgam attack, which claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians. The other two, Afghan and Gibran, were also on the A-category list of wanted terrorists.
“I would like to share details about ‘Operation Mahadev’, which took place yesterday. In this operation, three terrorists—Suleiman, Jibran, and one other, Afghani—were neutralised in a joint operation conducted by the Indian Army, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the Jammu Police,” Shah told the House.
He emphasized the significance of the operation, stating that all three terrorists were classified as A-grade threats, posing serious security risks.
The Pahalgam attack on April 22 had shaken the region, with terrorists opening fire on civilians in the Baisaran Valley area. Following the attack, intelligence agencies picked up a technical signal indicating the use of a satellite phone—a key lead that helped security forces locate the perpetrators.
Acting on this intelligence, a swift and targeted action was launched, ultimately leading to the successful elimination of the trio.
“Suleiman was a terrorist affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and all three were classified as A-grade terrorists,” Shah reiterated.
After the operation, the bodies of the terrorists were handed over to the local police for identification and post-operation legal formalities, following standard operating procedures.
The Lok Sabha discussion on Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, was initiated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday. The debate centers on India’s counter-terror measures and the broader national security strategy in the wake of increasing cross-border threats.
