Three militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in the Dachigam forest area near Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army’s Chinar Corps initially announced via its official handle that ‘Operation Mahadev’ had been launched based on specific intelligence. However, the confirmation of militant casualties came later in an official statement, which reported that three militants had been neutralized. The operation is still ongoing.
According to several national media outlets, the slain militants were allegedly linked to the recent Pahalgam attack. However, some other media sources have contradicted this claim, stating that there is no connection between the killed militants and the Pahalgam incident.
Army sources stated that gunfire was first heard on Monday morning in the Dachigam forest, where suspicious movements were also observed. Following this, a joint operation by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police was launched around 11 a.m. Intelligence sources indicated that the three slain militants were not Indian nationals and are believed to have ties with Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba.
The operation was reportedly launched after receiving credible inputs over a prolonged period. As per intelligence officials, the current operation is not directly linked to the Pahalgam attack. A thorough combing operation is underway in the forest area, and arms recovery is expected. Efforts are also being made to identify the deceased.
Drone cameras were used to capture footage of the encounter site. Investigative agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), are now involved. Recently, two suspects were arrested, and their assistance is being sought to identify the slain militants using photographs.
Though sources have ruled out a direct link to the Pahalgam attack, the operation is considered significant. Security agencies suspect that nearly 150 militants may have infiltrated across the border in recent times and are believed to be hiding in the region. The ongoing operation is reportedly aimed at locating and eliminating them.
