SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir – The Indian Army achieved a significant success in its ongoing counter-terrorism efforts in Jammu and Kashmir, eliminating three terrorists in “Operation Mahadev” conducted in the Lidwas forest area near Dara. The operation, launched on Monday, July 28, 2025, on the outskirts of Srinagar, was based on specific intelligence inputs regarding the presence of terrorists.
According to statements from the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps of the Indian Army, contact was established with the suspected militants in the General Area Lidwas. An intense firefight ensued, leading to the neutralization of three terrorists. “OP MAHADEV – Contact established in General Area Lidwas.
Operation in progress,” the Chinar Corps posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle as the operation commenced, later confirming the elimination of the terrorists.
While the identities of the slain terrorists are being ascertained, a senior police official indicated a high probability that these individuals were part of the group responsible for the deadly April 22 Pahalgam attack, which tragically claimed the lives of 26 tourists and a local resident.
SSP Srinagar GV Sundeep Chakravarty confirmed that the three slain terrorists were Pakistani and belonged to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit, though he did not immediately confirm their direct involvement in the Pahalgam attack, stating that “We are identifying them and ascertaining that.”
Military sources revealed that “Operation Mahadev” was initiated after suspicious communication was tracked by the Army two days prior, deep inside the Dachigam forests. This intelligence was further corroborated by local nomads, providing crucial inputs that helped pinpoint the terrorists’ location. Multiple Army teams were subsequently deployed to dominate and search the region. Early on Monday morning, a splinter group of three terrorists was tracked and neutralized by the Army through a combination of surprise and superior tactical maneuver.
The operation involved a joint effort by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Reinforcements were rushed to the area, and combing operations intensified to rule out the presence of any additional militants. The area remains under tight security as search operations continue.
The successful conduct of “Operation Mahadev” marks a crucial step in bringing to justice those involved in recent terror incidents and underscores the Indian Army’s relentless commitment to counter-terrorism operations in the region. The security forces continue to work to dismantle the terror ecosystem and ensure peace and stability in Jammu and Kashmir.
