Pahalgam attack mastermind among 3 terrorists killed in Op Mahadev: report
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New Delhi: A joint team of the Army and J&K Police killed three Pakistani terrorists under Operation Mahadev in Srinagar.
The terrorists are suspected to have involved in the Pahalagam attack that shocked the country a few weeks ago, India Today reported citing sources.
It is reported that the authorities have recovered from the terrorists around 17 grenades, one M4 carbine and two AK-47 rifles.
‘There is a high probability that the militants killed in this encounter may have been involved in the brutal Pahalgam terror attack that took place on April 22 in the Baisaran Valley area,’ a top source was quoted as saying.
The encounter took place in the Dachigam area of Srinagar near Mount Mahadev.
Armed forces arrived at the area after receiving information about the presence of three foreign terrorists.
The name Mahadev came likely from the operation that took place between Zabarwan and Mahadev ridges.
After intercepting a suspicious communication earlier in July in the jungle of Dachigam, Army had been closely tracking a joint group of Lashkar and Jaish terrorists for 14 days.
It is reported citing sources that nomads also supplied inputs on the terrorists.
On Monday around 11.30 am, one of the Army teams comprising 24 Rashtriya Rifles and 4 PARA spotted three terrorists and neutralized them.
The terrorists' connection to the Pahalgam attack will be confirmed only after identifying the bodies, according to the report.
Last month, the National Investigation Agency arrested two locals—identified as Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad—for allegedly harbouring the terrorists.
