Mastermind of Pahalgam Carnage Killed in Srinagar Encounter under Operation Mahadev

In a major breakthrough, top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Suleiman Shah alias Musa Fauji the mastermind of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack was gunned down in an encounter in Srinagar, officials confirmed on Monday. Two other Pakistani terrorists were also killed in the joint operation named Operation Mahadev, led by security forces in the Nowhatta area of downtown Srinagar.

Musa Fauji was the chief conspirator and executor of the Pahalgam attack, which claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians earlier this month. Intelligence sources revealed that the terrorists were caught off-guard and neutralised swiftly during the early hours of the operation. The successful strike is being hailed as a significant blow to the Lashkar-e-Taiba’s operational capabilities in the Kashmir Valley.

Officials said Musa had been on the radar for over a year and was also responsible for orchestrating the killing of seven workers involved in the construction of the Z-Morh tunnel on the strategic Srinagar-Sonmarg highway last year. His involvement in multiple terror plots, cross-border infiltration logistics, and targeted civilian killings had made him one of India’s most wanted militants.

Security experts have termed this encounter a “tactical success” for counter-terrorism forces. "It sends a clear message to Pakistan-sponsored terror groups that there will be zero tolerance for violence against civilians," an army spokesperson stated.The area has been cordoned off, and search operations continue to eliminate any remaining threats. Authorities have stepped up surveillance across the region to prevent retaliatory strikes and maintain calm in the wake of the encounter.