Hashim Musa
Srinagar: In a precisely executed counter‑terrorism operation codenamed Operation Mahadev, Indian security forces today killed three militants in the Harwan–Dachigam forested area near Srinagar. One of the slain was Hashim Musa, alias Suleiman Shah—identified as the mastermind behind the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam massacre that claimed 26 lives, including 25 tourists and a local pony operator.
According to multiple official sources, Musa had earlier served in the Pakistan Army’s elite Special Service Group before being dismissed and subsequently recruited by Lashkar-e-Taiba. Intelligence reports indicate he may have been “loaned” to LeT by Pakistan’s military to lend his commando skills to terror operations in Kashmir, including guerrilla warfare and covert attacks.
Musa is known to have infiltrated India in or around September 2023, entering via the Samba–Kathua route and later operating across Kishtwar, Budgam and the Anantnag districts. Investigations reveal he carried out at least four terror attacks in the Valley between late 2023 and 2024—including incidents in Kulgam (Hallan), Rajouri, Poonch, and Gagangir—targeting non-locals and security personnel. His operational role was supported by local Over Ground Workers (OGWs) responsible for reconnaissance and logistics.
Security forces moved in based on precise intelligence. The militants were located in a dense forest hideout near Dachigam early Monday, reportedly while resting. A brief but intense firefight ensued, resulting in the neutralisation of Musa and two associates. At the site, authorities recovered a US-made M4 carbine, two AK‑47 rifles, seventeen grenades, and other foreign-origin tactical gear.
Significantly, the seizure of Chinese-modified “Ultra Set” telecom equipment earlier in J&K encounters—gear originally built for the Pakistan Army—has previously demonstrated how terrorists use these encrypted devices to operate off-grid via radio and satellite communications. While not directly confirmed in today’s raid, past recoveries have linked Ultra Set handsets to terror modules with routes back to Pakistan-based control stations, using Chinese satellites to transmit messages—raising concerns about state-enabled technological assistance to terror groups.
Musa’s elimination is being regarded as a major blow to Lashkar-e-Taiba’s operations in the Kashmir Valley. His prior involvement in planning the Pahalgam massacre resulted in a ₹20 lakh bounty announced by the Jammu & Kashmir Police, and his deep connections with Pakistani handlers such as Saifullah Kasuri and Sheikh Sajjad Gul are under continued investigation.
The success of Operation Mahadev underscores Indian agencies’ enhanced capability to conduct intelligence-driven, inter-agency counter-terror efforts—even when militants employ advanced, SIM‑less communication technologies to evade detection.
Combing operations are ongoing in the Dachigam area to prevent any surviving threats. Forensic and signal intelligence teams are analysing recovered materials and communications traces. The neutralisation of Musa is seen not only as justice for the Pahalgam victims but also as a crucial step in dismantling the cross-border terror infrastructure that enabled high-profile attacks on civilians in Kashmir.
– global bihari bureau
