All 3 Pahalgam attackers killed in Operation Mahadev: Amit Shah tells Parliament

India’s Home Minister Amit Shah has confirmed while speaking in the Lok Sabha that three terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack have been killed by security forces. He also confirmed that there were three Pakistani nationals involved in the attack.

“In a joint Operation Mahadev, the Indian Army, CRPF and J&K Police have neutralised three terrorists who were involved in the Pahalgam terror attack,” Shah said.

Details of the Operation Mahadev

Shah said that security personnel from the army and the IB kept moving through the terrain to intercept their signals.

Earlier, it was reported that Operation Mahadev was initiated based on intelligence inputs gathered over 15 days, beginning with the detection of a Chinese satellite phone in the Baisaran area on July 11.

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On July 22, their presence in the area was finally confirmed. The Army, CRPF, and Jammu & Kashmir Police jointly carried out a coordinated operation to surround them.

Shah said the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had already arrested those who had provided shelter to the terrorists. “When the terrorists’ bodies were brought to Srinagar, those arrested were made to identify them — and they confirmed the identities of all three,” Shah stated.

The home minister said that cartridge cases were recovered from the attack site, and their FSL had already been conducted in advance. The terrorists were in possession of AK-47s and M9 Carbines.

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When the terrorists were killed yesterday, their rifles were recovered, and the cartridges found with them were from M9 American rifles. A ballistic comparison of the recovered rifles and shell casings confirmed that these same three weapons were used in the attack on our civilians, Shah stated.

He stressed that six scientists have cross-checked, and they are 100 per cent sure that the bullet was fired from this rifle.

Takes a dig at opposition

Amit Shah meanwhile took a dig at opposition, saying they didn’t seem to be happy after hearing the news.

“I had expected that when the opposition heard this news, there would be a sense of satisfaction across both sides — government and opposition. But even after hearing this news, you (the opposition) show no sign of happiness.”