- Date & Time: Monday, July 28, 2025, at approximately 1:00 PM IST (UTC+05:30) during Operation Mahadev in the Harwan forests near Dachigam, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir The Times of India+11Hindustan Times+11The Economic Times+11.
- Outcome: India security forces—including the Army, CRPF, and J&K Police—neutralized three foreign militants, believed to be members of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) Wikipedia+9Hindustan Times+9www.ndtv.com+9.
- Confirmed Identities:
- Suleiman Shah (alias Hashim Moosa), identified as a former Pakistani Army Special Service Group commando turned LeT terrorist and mastermind behind the April 22 Pahalgam massacre, was among those killed Wikipedia+13www.ndtv.com+13www.ndtv.com+13.
- Other terrorists killed: Abu Hamza and Yasir, also tied to the Pahalgam terror attack www.ndtv.com+1YouTube+1.
- Operational Details: Security forces acted on intelligence gathered over several weeks; they located and cornered the suspects in dense forest terrain roughly 20 km from Srinagar city. Weapons and ammunition—including grenades, rifles, and explosives—were recovered from their hideout YouTube+5India Today+5Hindustan Times+5.
- Significance: The elimination of these high-value targets is being seen as a major breakthrough in the investigation into the Pahalgam massacre, which claimed 26 civilian lives, mostly Hindu tourists ICCT+6www.ndtv.com+6Wikipedia+6.
🎯 Summary Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Operation Name | Operation Mahadev |
| Location | Harwan/Dachigam forests near Srinagar, J&K |
| Time of Incident | Around 1:00 PM IST (July 28, 2025) |
| Number of Militants Killed | Three (Pakistani nationals, Lashkar-e-Taiba members) |
| Mastermind Eliminated | Suleiman Shah (alias Hashim Moosa), former SSG commando |
| Others Killed | Abu Hamza & Yasir |
| Recovered Weapons | AK‑47s, M4 carbine, rifle grenades, ammunition |
| Significance | Major success in tracking Pahalgam terror perpetrators |
This incident marks one of the most significant counterterror successes in recent years, signaling India’s firm resolve following the tragic Pahalgam attack in April and the wider Operation Sindoor retaliatory action earlier in May
