Operation Mahadev: Pahalgam attack mastermind among 3 terrorists killed in Srinagar; encounter still on

Pahalgam attack mastermind Hashim Musa aka Suleman Musa were among three terrorists gunned down in a massive encounter in Srinagar on Monday. A report by CNN-News18 said that Musa was among the three terrorists eliminated in the fierce gun battle.

Meanwhile, the Chinar Corps of the Indian Army has also shared the update on its official X account. "Three terrorist have been neutralised in an intense firefight. Operation Continues," the Chinar Corps said in the message on X.

Along with the Indian Army, teams from the CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police are also involved in Operation Mahadev. Latest reports say that Indian forces intercepted movement of foreign terrorists in the upper reaches of Dachigam Forest at Srinagar's Harwan. An India Today report said that the nomads gave the tip-off to the forces. The Indian troops were tracking the movements of the terrorists for past 14 days, the India Today report added.

The CNN-News18 report also said that bodies of the terrorists are being brought from the encounter spot. While there is no official word of their role in the Baisaran Valley attack, the report adds that these terrorists were involved in some major attacks on the Indian soil. Citing defence sources, the CNN-News18 report further added that the encounter began at 11 am. Drones have also been deployed for surveillance. Photos clicked by the drones will be shown to the jailed terrorists as part of the identification process, media reports say.

Reason behind codename Operation Mahadev

The ongoing operation, codenamed Operation Mahadev, is a joint effort by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the CRPF. Officials confirmed on Monday that the encounter began in the dense Lidwas forest area and is still underway. The name Mahadev is significant not only from a tactical standpoint but also carries symbolic meaning. Mahadev Peak, located near New Theed in Srinagar and part of the Zabarwan Range, holds both strategic and spiritual importance.