Victims’ Families Find Closure After Pahalgam Attack Mastermind Killed in Anti-Terror Operation

Families of Pahalgam terror victims expressed relief after Amit Shah confirmed the three terrorists behind the attack were killed in Operation Mahadev. Calling the news a source of peace, victims’ relatives thanked the government and Army, while urging continued action against terrorism to prevent future tragedies.

A wave of emotional relief swept through families of the Pahalgam terror attack victims after Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed in Parliament that the three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists behind the April 22 massacre were killed in a high-intensity security operation on Monday. Among the slain militants was Suleiman, identified as the mastermind behind the brutal assault that left 26 people dead.

In Pune, Asavari Jagdale, daughter of one of the victims, expressed her gratitude to the Indian Army and the government. “We will now be able to sleep peacefully,” she told reporters, adding that justice for the deceased had finally been delivered. She urged the government to continue operations like Mahadev to prevent future tragedies.

Another grieving family member, Sangita Ganbote, whose husband Kaustubh was among the victims, echoed similar sentiments. “We trusted Prime Minister Modi and the Army to ensure justice. That faith has been honoured,” she said.

The encounter took place in the dense Lidwas forest near Harwan, on Srinagar’s outskirts, when security forces tracked suspicious movement in the Mulnar area. A joint team of the Indian Army, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir Police engaged the heavily armed terrorists in a fierce firefight, resulting in all three being neutralised.

Addressing the Lok Sabha, Shah confirmed that Pakistani-origin items, including voter IDs and chocolate wrappers, were recovered from the terrorists. He reiterated that this evidence proved their nationality and Pakistan’s continued involvement in cross-border terrorism.

Also Read: Sonia Gandhi Urges PM Modi to Break Silence on Gaza Crisis, Calls Israeli Actions “Genocide”

Operation Mahadev, which led to the killings, had been underway since May 22 and was built on weeks of intelligence surveillance and field coordination. With the deaths of Suleiman, Afghan, and Jibran, families now hope the chapter of trauma closes with justice finally served.