Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday announced in Parliament that all three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists responsible for the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 civilians, have been neutralised in Operation Mahadev. Speaking during a discussion on Operation Sindoor, Shah confirmed the militants’ identities and Pakistani origin using concrete evidence including voter ID cards, chocolates manufactured in Pakistan, and foreign-made weapons.
“Innocent civilians were killed in front of their families in the Baisaran Valley after being asked about their religion. In a joint operation, the Army, CRPF and J&K Police have neutralised the three terrorists who were involved in the attack,” Shah told the Lok Sabha.
Operation Mahadev: Lashkar Terrorists Eliminated with Irrefutable Proof
According to Shah, the three terrorists Lashkar commander Suleiman Shah, Afghan, and Jibran were positively identified by individuals who had provided them shelter after the Pahalgam massacre. Their bodies were recognised by detainees already held by Indian security agencies, including two men Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad who had been arrested last month by the NIA for harbouring the attackers.
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The Union Home Minister explained that extensive verification processes were followed before going public with the information. Forensic examination confirmed the rifles recovered from the terrorists matched the cartridges collected after the April 22 attack.
Among the weapons seized were one US-made M4 carbine, two AK-47 rifles, and 17 grenades, further exposing what Shah described as Pakistan’s involvement.
“The FSL report of the cartridges from the terror attack was already ready… Yesterday, the rifles of the three terrorists were seized and matched with the FSL reports… After that, it was confirmed that these three were those who carried out the terror attack,” he said.
Amit Shah Slams Chidambaram, Opposition in Heated House Exchange
Shah strongly rebuked senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram, who had earlier questioned the government’s assertion that the attackers were from Pakistan. Chidambaram had suggested the attackers could have been homegrown, prompting Shah to respond sharply:
“Yesterday, former Home Minister Chidambaram raised the question: what is the proof that the terrorists came from Pakistan? I want to ask him what he will get by saving Pakistan. When he says this, it means they are giving a clean chit to Pakistan.”
He also took a swipe at Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, saying:
“Akhilesh ji… please sit down, I will respond to every question. Don’t be sad over the religion of the terrorists.”
Expressing disappointment at the Opposition’s reaction, Shah added:
“I was expecting that when they hear this news of the killing of the Pahalgam terrorists, they would be happy, but instead they don’t seem happy about it.”
