Home Minister Amit Shah informed the Lok Sabha that three Pakistani terrorists, who brutally killed 26 innocent tourists in Baisaran Valley, Pahalgam, have been neutralized in the Army's Operation Mahadev on Monday. These terrorists were identified as Suleiman, Gibran, and Hamza Afghani.
In the presentation to the Lok Sabha, the Home Minister elaborated on Operation Mahadev conducted by the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and paramilitary forces. Amit Shah announced that the confirmation of the terrorists being responsible for the Pahalgam attack followed four to five rounds of identity verifications, with final confirmation arriving at 4:46 AM from scientists in Chandigarh.
The Home Minister stated that Operation Mahadev commenced on May 22, 2025, while highlighting that the Pahalgam attack transpired on April 22. Amit Shah assured that every arrangement was made by the government and security agencies to prevent the terrorists from leaving the country's borders under any circumstances.
60 Days of Efforts in Signal Capturing
In a charged atmosphere of applause and opposition interruptions, Amit Shah disclosed that human intelligence relating to the incident was acquired by the IB on May 22. This intelligence suggested terrorist presence in the Dachi village area, and extensive efforts in signal capturing were made continuously from May 22 to July 22 with devices fashioned by our agencies.
In the cold mountains, our officers from the Army, IB, and CRPF kept patrolling the heights to pinpoint terrorists’ signals. Success was attained on July 22. Once the terrorists’ presence was confirmed, soldiers from the Para Brigade, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir Police collaborated to encircle the terrorists. Five human assets were deployed. Consequently, in Monday's operation, the trio responsible for the Pahalgam assault met their end.
The Home Minister then explained how the government and military agencies confirmed the identity of the neutralized terrorists through multiple rounds of verification, ensuring satisfaction in identifying the three as responsible for the Pahalgam attack.
Ballistic Report Matches Ammunitions
Home Minister Amit Shah remarked, "The NIA had already apprehended those sheltering the terrorists. Four individuals confirmed the trio’s culpability for the attack. However, skepticism remained and haste was avoided. Ballistic analysis of cartridges from the attack site was conducted beforehand. The ballistic report from Chandigarh matched the ammunition, cementing the findings. At their demise, three weapons were found: one M-9 American rifle and two AK-47 rifles. The cartridges corresponded to the M-9 and AK-47 rifles, yet further confirmation was pursued."
Amit Shah shared further efforts to establish the terrorists’ identities: the seized rifles were transported by special aircraft from Srinagar to Chandigarh, where extensive firing produced additional shells, which were matched against those from Pahalgam. The firing and the resultant shells were a match, demonstrating these very rifles were used in the senseless murder of our innocent citizens.
Scientists Confirm: 100 Percent Identical Bullets
The Home Minister detailed the incident's timing and sequence, elucidating the demise of the terrorists. He remarked that the terrorists' deaths might be acknowledged by the opposition, despite their somber expressions.
He retorted to Akhilesh Yadav's interruption by stating not to lament over the terrorists’ religion. He asserted no room for doubt remains. "Ballistic report is in my hand, cross-verified by six scientists. At 4:46 AM, six scientists affirmed the bullets fired were an exact match," Amit Shah asserted.
Amit Shah declared this success is a shared triumph of our nation's Army, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir Police, making 1.4 billion Indians proud.
Recalling his encounter with victims of the Pahalgam attack, the Home Minister vividly remembered a woman widowed six days post-marriage. He could never forget the scene. Modi Ji's Operation Sindoor targeted the attackers’ enablers, while our Army dealt with the perpetrators directly.
Amit Shah affirmed the incident’s investigation was handed over to the NIA and described the grueling, persistent inquiries involving victims’ relatives, tourists, mule handlers, photographers, and shopkeepers. Altogether, 1,000 individuals were interrogated over 3,000 hours, aiding in sketch preparation.
Following a protracted investigation, Bashir and Parvez were identified on June 22. These individuals harbored the terrorists the day following the Pahalgam attack. Both were detained. The culprits admitted to three terrorists notably arriving at Parvez Dhoke, 2 kilometers from Baisaran, on the evening of April 21. Two enveloped in dark garb and one in a disguise bought food, salt, and seasoning before retreating.
Amit Shah revealed that the arrested suspects’ mothers confirmed these terrorists orchestrated the Pahalgam event. He added the Chandigarh CFL report corroborated the theory that the shells retrieved from the site matched those from seized rifles.
