Who Was Hashim Musa? Pahalgam Attack Mastermind & Ex-Pak Army Commando Killed In Operation Mahadev

After more than three months since the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the Indian Army, under Operation Mahadev, neutralised the mastermind behind the attack, Hashim Musa, also known as Suleiman Shah. The attack killed 26 civilians in the Baisaran Valley of Pahalgam on 22 April.

Suleiman Shah, a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist, was a former commando in the Pakistan Army's elite Special Service Group (SSG). He later joined UN-designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed’s LeT and carried out multiple terror activities, according to NDTV.

Musa illegally entered India in September 2023 and began operating in South Kashmir. A year later, he led an attack in which seven civilians were killed when terrorists opened fire on a camp housing workers of a private company constructing a tunnel.

He was also involved in an attack in Baramulla, where four security personnel were killed in action. In total, he was linked to at least six terrorist attacks. Following the Pahalgam attack, security forces launched a house-to-house search operation to locate him.

Reward Of ₹20 Lakhs

A reward of Rs 20 lakhs was announced by the Jammu & Kashmir police on information leading to Hashim Musa and other terrorists who were involved in the attack on tourists in Baisaran, Pahalgam on 22nd April.

On Monday morning, Operation Mahadev was launched jointly by the Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Jammu and Kashmir Police after receiving credible intelligence about the presence of terrorists in the Dachigam area. Three terrorists, including Musa, were killed in the encounter.

The identification of other two terrorists is yet to be ascertained. Drone footage showed bodies of the terrorists.

Debate On Operation Sindoor In Parliament

A debate on Opeartion Sindoor is ongoing in the Lok Sabha and a similar debate is scheduled to take place in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, July 29. Parliament has allocated 16 hours in each house to allow a detailed discussion on the operation and its wider national implications.