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Operation
During the discussion on Operation Sindoor in Parliament, Home Minister Amit Shah made a big revelation on the success of Operation Mahadev with firm clarity. Cutting through the political noise, the Home Minister brought facts about one of India’s most meticulously executed counter-terror operations — Operation Mahadev. Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed India Today’s news break that the three terrorists who were eliminated in Operation Mahadev were the ones responsible for the Pahalgam attack on April 22. But how were authorities so sure these were the same men? The Home Minister made the announcement and explained how extra caution was used while verifying the identity of these terrorists.
TRACING THE TRAIL USING HUMAN INTELLIGENCE LAYER
The breakthrough began not with bullets but with food and shelter. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had already apprehended individuals in Kashmir who had aided the terrorists. These locals had provided them food, shelter, and logistics. During interrogations, these men gave detailed accounts of the three terrorists they had encountered. Later, after Operation Mahadev was completed, these individuals were brought in to visually identify the neutralised terrorists. They confirmed that the same men they had helped were now lying dead, killed by the forces.
THE FORENSIC CROSSCHECK BASED ON GUNS, SHELLS AND SCIENCE
While human intelligence provided one layer of identification, the security agencies sought irrefutable forensic proof. The AK-47 rifles and an M9 Carbine recovered from the terrorists were immediately flown to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Chandigarh.
There, experts conducted ballistic matching tests. At 4 AM, the CFSL issued its final report confirming that the bullets fired from the recovered weapons were a match to the shell casings and projectiles collected from the Pahalgam attack site. This scientific confirmation eliminated any doubt.
PHYSICAL EVIDENCE FROM THE OPERATION SITE
Security forces didn’t leave it there.
As soon as the three terrorists were neutralised in Operation Mahadev, joint teams from the Indian Army, J&K Police, CRPF, and intelligence agencies launched an immediate on-ground verification process. They thoroughly searched the bodies, weapons, satellite phones, and documents recovered. Among the seized items were thoroughly checked. There was enough evidence that confirmed foreign origin.
Two of the three terrorists were carrying Pakistani voter ID numbers, which were retrieved and verified by intelligence sources, according to the Home Minister.
STRATEGIC BRIEFING DELAYED UNTIL 100% CONFIRMATION
After the success of Operation Mahadev, a briefing was planned by the Chinar Corps GOC for 5 PM in Srinagar. But it was delayed. Why? Because the security forces chose caution over haste — they waited for final confirmation from CFSL Chandigarh. Only after the ballistics test report at 4 AM the next day did the Indian government officially confirm that the neutralised terrorists were the perpetrators of the Pahalgam massacre.
The Home Minister further revealed that 8 out of the 10 terrorists eliminated in Operation Sindoor were also involved in attacks during the UPA era. With multi-layered intelligence, forensic science, human intelligence, and digital tracking, Indian security forces didn’t just strike back — they proved that they eliminated the exact individuals responsible for the heinous Pahalgam attack.
The recent counter-terrorism breakthrough under Operation Mahadev has shed light on how intelligence agencies, security forces, and local networks worked in synergy to identify and track down the terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam plot. This operation stands as a reminder of the resilience and precision of India’s security framework in dealing with threats to peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
While the incident initially sparked fear among local residents, the swift and methodical investigation has restored confidence. Authorities revealed that the success was not the result of one lucky lead but a carefully executed sequence of investigative steps. Here are the 7 crucial steps that led to the identification of the Pahalgam terrorists under Operation Mahadev.
1. Gathering Preliminary Intelligence
The first step was the collection of ground-level intelligence. Security agencies had been monitoring unusual movement in certain areas of South Kashmir, particularly around routes leading into Pahalgam. Local informants, combined with electronic surveillance, flagged suspicious activities such as sudden gatherings in isolated forest areas and unfamiliar individuals frequenting border villages.
This early alert triggered a deeper probe, laying the foundation for the operation. Without this groundwork, subsequent breakthroughs would have been difficult to achieve.
2. Forensic Analysis of Recovered Materials
Following minor skirmishes in the region, forces had previously recovered arms, ammunition, and coded documents. Forensic experts under Operation Mahadev analyzed these materials to trace origins. The weapons bore signatures linking them to cross-border supply chains, while scraps of paper contained coded messages. By running these through decryption tools, investigators identified names and pseudonyms used by operatives in the Pahalgam belt.
This scientific approach helped bridge gaps between field intelligence and hard evidence.
3. Monitoring Digital Footprints
One of the most decisive steps was the monitoring of digital communication channels. Agencies tracked suspicious mobile numbers and social media handles that showed sudden activity spikes. Using advanced signal triangulation, locations of these devices were narrowed down.
What stood out was the recurring appearance of a few IMEI numbers in areas close to known militant hideouts. This digital trail provided the first solid leads toward the exact identities of those involved.
4. Collaboration with Local Communities
No counter-terrorism operation can succeed without the cooperation of local citizens. In this case, villagers near Pahalgam discreetly reported sightings of strangers seeking shelter, often under the guise of being laborers or traders.
Operation Mahadev encouraged such community collaboration through confidential channels. This grassroots support enabled forces to map out hideouts more effectively, confirming the presence of external operatives who did not belong to the local demographic.
5. Interrogation of Overground Workers (OGWs)
Overground Workers (OGWs) often form the logistical backbone of terrorist outfits, providing safe houses, supplies, and intelligence. During earlier crackdowns, several OGWs had been detained. Their interrogation under Operation Mahadev revealed critical details about supply lines, code words, and meeting points.
Through a mix of psychological tactics and fact-verification, investigators extracted names and physical descriptions of operatives hiding in the Pahalgam zone. This cross-verification added layers of reliability to the intelligence picture.
6. Use of Surveillance Drones and Reconnaissance
Technology played a decisive role. Drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and infrared sensors scanned dense forest belts around Pahalgam. Reconnaissance missions detected unusual movement patterns—particularly groups avoiding main roads and using forest trails at odd hours.
The footage was later matched with the physical descriptions obtained during interrogations. This step visually confirmed the identities and numbers of the terrorists operating in the region.
7. Coordinated Multi-Agency Verification
The final step was coordinated verification across multiple security agencies—including local police, intelligence bureaus, and paramilitary units. Each agency cross-checked the emerging profiles against existing databases of known terrorists and fresh recruits.
Within days, authorities were able to establish exact identities, their affiliations to banned outfits, and their movement history. Armed with this intelligence, security forces launched targeted operations to neutralize the threat, ensuring minimal collateral damage.
Broader Implications of Operation Mahadev
The success of Operation Mahadev demonstrates the importance of multi-layered counter-terrorism strategies. Unlike earlier decades where operations often relied heavily on brute force, modern strategies now integrate:
Technology (surveillance drones, digital tracking, forensic analysis)
Human intelligence (community networks, informants, interrogations)
Inter-agency collaboration (local police working alongside national intelligence units)
This hybrid approach increases precision while reducing risks for civilians and security personnel alike.
Restoring Public Confidence
The identification of terrorists under Operation Mahadev has brought relief to the residents of Pahalgam, a region heavily reliant on tourism and pilgrimage routes. Any terror activity in this area threatens not only local lives but also the broader perception of safety in Jammu and Kashmir.
By swiftly identifying and isolating the culprits, security forces have sent a strong message: terrorism will find no safe haven, even in the remotest corners of the Valley.
Conclusion
Operation Mahadev will be remembered as a landmark counter-terrorism effort in the Pahalgam region. Through seven decisive steps—ranging from intelligence gathering and forensic analysis to drone surveillance and community cooperation—the security establishment showcased the evolving sophistication of India’s counter-terrorism operations.
The word Mahadev, symbolic of protection and destruction of evil, reflects the very spirit of the mission. By identifying and acting against those who sought to disturb peace, the operation reaffirmed that law, order, and justice will always prevail.
As the dust settles in Pahalgam, one lesson stands clear: the balance between vigilance, technology, and community support—much like the equilibrium symbolized by mu—is the key to securing lasting peace in the Valley.
– Ends