Harwan encounter- Alleged mastermind of Pahalgam terror attack shot dead: Officials
Srinagar: In a major breakthrough, the Army’s elite para commandos on Monday shot dead the alleged mastermind of the Pahalgam terror attack along with two of his associates in an encounter in a forest area on Srinagar’s outskirts in Kashmir, officials said here.
The officials said Sulieman alias Asif, who is believed to be the mastermind of the April 22 attack, was killed after the security forces launched a surprise operation following a technical signal indicating the use of a satellite phone that was also used by the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack.
The other terrorists killed in the Army action, codenamed ‘Operation Mahadev’, have been identified as Jibran — who was allegedly involved in the Sonamarg Tunnel attack last year — and Hamza Afghani.
As many as 26 persons — mostly tourists — were shot dead by terrorists at Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam, which prompted the armed forces to launch Operation Sindoor on May 7 against the terror infrastructure in Pakistan.
According to officials, the Army launched the operation in the forests of Harwan following a technical signal that was similar to the device used by terrorists in Pahalgam.
The terrorists were killed in an exchange of fire during the cordon and search in Mulnar village. One of the slain terrorists has been identified as Jibran, who, officials said, was involved in the attack on the Sonamarg Tunnel project at Gagangir in October last year. Seven people, including a doctor, were killed in the attack.
One M4 carbine rifle, two AK rifles and other munitions were recovered from the site.
At around 1130 hours, one party comprising personnel from 24 Rashtriya Rifles and 4 Para unit had detected the group of three terrorists and neutralised them by springing a surprise on them, an official said.
Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Zone) V K Birdi said it was a long-drawn operation which continued till late evening.
Earlier, Srinagar-based Chinar Corps in a post on X said three terrorists were killed under Operation Mahadev.
“Three terrorists have been neutralised in an intense firefight. Operation Continues,” the Chinar Corps of the Army said.
