Hashim Musa, a key operative linked to cross-border terror networks, is believed to have been neutralised during ‘Operation Mahadev’ after weeks of intelligence efforts
Hashim Musa alias Suleman, the alleged mastermind of the Pahalgam terror attack, is believed to have been killed in an encounter by the Indian Army’s Special Forces near Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.
The identity of Hashim Musa and two other slain terrorists, however, is yet to be confirmed, top police sources said. The other two are believed to be Abu Hamza alias Harris and Yasir, both with alleged links to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), they said.
“The operation is ongoing. There was an exchange of fire. As per reports, three bodies have been observed. Can’t say more right now. We will take sometime for clarity, identification, can’t say anything. We will let you know at right time,” VK Birdi, IGP Kashmir, told reporters.
Musa — a key operative linked to cross-border terror networks — and the two other terrorists are believed to have been neutralised during the army’s ‘Operation Mahadev’ following weeks of coordinated intelligence efforts. Known as Suleman, he was also suspected to be behind several other terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir.
Officials said the fierce gunfight broke out in the dense forests of Harwan near Dachigam. According to intelligence sources, Musa had lost significant weight and altered his hairstyle and beard in an apparent attempt to evade identification.
“Three terrorists have been neutralised in an intense firefight. Operation continues,” the Army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps posted on X.
The encounter came amid a massive security operation to hunt down those behind the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives. Intelligence inputs gathered over the past month had indicated that some of the terrorists involved may have moved towards the Dachigam region, located roughly 20 km from Srinagar’s city centre.
HOW THE TERRORISTS WERE TRACED
A key breakthrough in tracing the Dachigam hideout came from a communication device that had been under surveillance since the April 22 Pahalgam attack. Top security sources told CNN-News18 that a suspicious call made from this device two days ago triggered immediate red flags within the security grid.
The device, believed to be a Huawei satellite phone reportedly used by the terrorists during the Pahalgam attack, had remained inactive since then. However, when intelligence agencies detected renewed activity on the device, they quickly narrowed down its location to a remote part of the Dachigam forest, far from any human habitation. The input was swiftly developed, and based on the coordinates, a full-scale operation was launched in the area on Monday.
Besides that, the sources said, the operation was on for more than a month. They had received human intelligence input about the movement of the terrorists but those were not specific. Special forces teams were deployed at several axes to track them down and nomads in these areas were thoroughly questioned about their presence, they added.
WHY DACHIGAM MATTERS IN TERROR NETWORKS
Dachigam holds strategic significance due to its geographic location — positioned between central and south Kashmir, it provides a crucial link between regions like Sonmarg and Pahalgam. The mountain peaks in this area are interconnected, offering militants a natural corridor to move discreetly across the Valley.
WHY ARE MOUNTAINS BEING USED?
Terror groups have increasingly used these high-altitude routes to evade detection. Operating from these remote mountainous zones keeps them out of sight of security forces. Food and basic supplies are often taken from nomadic communities at gunpoint, with little fear of being reported. Additionally, the challenging terrain slows down the movement of security forces, giving militants enough time to either escape or relocate before troops arrive.