July 28,2025:
In a significant anti-terror operation, security forces on Sunday eliminated three high-value terrorists during an encounter in the Lidwas area near Srinagar. The operation, codenamed Operation Mahadev, was launched by the Indian Army following credible intelligence inputs about the presence of foreign terrorists in the region.
The joint operation was carried out by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). According to defence officials, the terrorists were neutralized after a fierce exchange of fire that began early Sunday morning.
“This was a highly coordinated operation. Based on specific intelligence, we launched Operation Mahadev to target the group hiding in the Lidwas area. All three terrorists were foreign nationals and classified as high-value targets,” said Lt. General Rajiv Ghai, General Officer Commanding (GOC), Chinar Corps.
Security officials believe the militants were associated with Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), though their identities are yet to be officially confirmed. Initial reports suggest they were involved in several attacks targeting security personnel and civilians in the Kashmir Valley.
Director General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir, R.R. Swain, praised the operation and called it a “major success” in the ongoing efforts to dismantle the terror network operating in the region. “These were not mere foot soldiers. They were part of a high-level network with trans-border links and posed a significant threat to peace and stability,” he said.
The encounter site, Lidwas, is located near the tourist hub of Gulmarg and is known for its difficult terrain. Officials stated that the location had been under surveillance for weeks due to increased militant activity along the Line of Control (LoC).
Following the operation, arms and ammunition, including assault rifles and communication devices, were recovered from the site. The area has been cordoned off, and a search operation is underway to rule out the presence of any other militants in the vicinity.
This development comes amid heightened security in the Kashmir Valley, with multiple counter-terror operations being carried out in recent weeks. The Army has ramped up its proactive intelligence-based operations to curb infiltration and dismantle terror modules.
Sources in the security establishment have indicated that further operations are being planned in other suspected hideouts across north Kashmir.
The success of Operation Mahadev is being viewed as a morale booster for the security forces and a blow to the terrorist infrastructure supported from across the border.
