Operation Mahadev: How India tracked, identified & unmasked Pahalgam attackers

In an intense 24-hour operation, forensic science and human intelligence played a pivotal role in identifying the terrorists behind the brutal Pahalgam attack, Union Home Minister Amit Shah revealed in the Lok Sabha.

Operation Mahadev: The Beginning

Launched on May 22, Operation Mahadev was part of a high-level security strategy following the April 22 massacre in Baisaran Valley, where 26 civilians were killed. Shah said the first objective was clear, ensure the terrorists don’t escape across the border.

Acting on human intelligence, the IB, Army, CRPF, and J&K Police traced the terrorists to Dachigam forest on July 22. After tracking their presence with indigenously developed sensors, a joint team neutralised three Pakistani LeT terrorists.

The Role of Witnesses and Science

While four locals identified the bodies, security agencies needed absolute proof linking them to the Pahalgam killings. Around midnight, a special flight transported the terrorists’ rifles to CFSL Chandigarh.

There, experts worked overnight to match bullet shells from the Pahalgam crime scene with those fired from the seized rifles. The result? A 100% ballistic match confirmed by six scientists via video call to Amit Shah at 4:46 AM.

A Wider Probe Unfolds

The NIA, now leading the investigation, questioned over 1,000 people, arrested two locals who sheltered the terrorists, and collected testimonies from victims and witnesses. Pakistani voter IDs and chocolates were also recovered from the slain terrorists, identified as LeT commander Suleiman alias Faizal Jat, Jibran, and Afghani.

A Victory for Precision Policing

Combining forensic precision with human intelligence, security forces pieced together the puzzle swiftly and decisively bringing justice to the victims and sending a strong message across the border.