Chinese radio, local nomads: How Indian Army took Lord Shivas path in Operation Mahadev to eliminate Pahalgam attack terrorists
Operation Mahadev, conducted by the Indian Army and Jammu & Kashmir Police, successfully eliminated three terrorists, including Hashim Musa, the mastermind behind the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack.
New Delhi: On April 22, 2025, India witnessed the heinous Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 innocent civilians were killed. The attack brought immense, unending grief to the close ones, to the loved ones of those victims. During the subsequent Operation Sindoor, the Indian Armed Forces destroyed several terrorist bases in Pakistan and its occupied territories. However, the families of the victims were still awaiting a certain justice, the capture of those terrorists who perpetrated the deadly attack.
They got that justice on July 28, when the Indian Army successfully eliminated three terrorists, including the mastermind of the Pahalgam attack. In an operation that has been termed Operation Mahadev, the Indian Army, aided by the Jammu and Kashmir police, managed to bring those terrorists down, providing, to some extent, a closure to the families of the victims. The operation took place in the general area of Lidwas in Jammu and Kashmir.
Who were the terrorists killed in Operation Mahadev?
One of the terrorists killed in the operation was Hashim Musa alias Suleiman, who is considered to be the mastermind behind the Pahalgam attack. The other two terrorists were Yasir and Abu Hamza. They were foreign nationals and belonged to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the dreaded Pakistan-based terror outfit.
How did Operation Mahadev unfold?
Since the April 22 Pahalgam attack, the security personnel in Kashmir have been searching for those who perpetrated it. Around 14 days ago, they received a breakthrough through a suspicious communication. The forces discovered that a Chinese ultra-high-frequency radio communication system was active. Notably, the LeT uses the Chinese radio for encrypted messages, and it was reportedly also used during the Pahalgam terror attack.
When the terrorists activated the communication device for around two days, it helped security officials to pinpoint their location. They were hiding in the Dachigam forest area, and with the help of local nomads, the forces were able to narrow down their location.
Once the officials found that the terrorists were hiding in Jammu and Kashmir's Dachigam forests, several units were deployed in the area as forces began to comb-search for the precise location. The Dachigam forest has two sides, one extending towards Pahalgam and the other connecting the Ganderbal district.
The Chinar Corps of the Indian Army launched the operation. First, on Monday, they used a drone to get a clear visual of the terrorists. After that, personnel from the Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Para Special Forces commandos began to ascend the Mahadev hill, after which the operation was named. At around 11.30 am, the security personnel surrounded the terrorists and eliminated them. At 12:45 pm, their bodies were identified and photographed.
What is the significance of the name Operation Mahadev?
The operation was named so because it took place near the peak of Mahadev Hill, part of the Zabarwan Range. As per the Kashmiri folklore, Lord Shiva took this path to reach the Amarnath Cave, where he told Goddess Parvati the Amar Katha.
The security personnel recovered weapons from the site, including an AK-47, a US-made carbine, 17 rifle grenades, and other materials. The families of the Pahalgam terror attack victims and the rest of India have lauded the success of the operation, as those who were responsible for the bloodbath in the Valley have been finally brought to justice.