On July 28, 2025, Operation Mahadev, a meticulously planned anti-terror mission, unfolded in Srinagar’s Lidwas area near Dachigam National Park, neutralizing three Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, including the mastermind of the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians. Executed by the Indian Army’s Chinar Corps, 24 Rashtriya Rifles, 4 Para, J&K Police, and CRPF, the operation targeted terrorists hiding in dense forests. To avenge the brutal attack and curb Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Through precise intelligence, drones, and a swift firefight, as #OperationMahadev trends on X. Veteran actor Anupam Kher lauded the operation, praising the Modi government’s decisive action.
In This Article:
- A Strategic Victory
- Anupam Kher’s Powerful Endorsement
- The Broader Context and Debate
- Cultural and Future Significance
A Strategic Victory
Launched at 11 AM on July 28, Operation Mahadev was triggered by intelligence inputs, including a T82 ultraset signal matching the Pahalgam attack’s signature. The operation, named after the sacred Mahadev Peak, saw elite Para commandos and Rashtriya Rifles engage terrorists Suleiman Shah (alias Hashim Musa), Jibran, and Hamza Afghani in a 30-minute firefight, recovering an M4 carbine, two AK-47s, 17 grenades, and Pakistan-made voter IDs and chocolates, confirming their origins. Home Minister Amit Shah told Parliament the terrorists were identified via forensic matching and detainee testimonies, marking a “major success.”
Anupam Kher’s Powerful Endorsement
Anupam Kher, in an interview on July 29, hailed the operation, saying, “I congratulate the government for putting an end to those perpetrators who brutally killed 26 of our citizens. It’s a government that acts.” He praised the Indian Armed Forces’ courage, adding, “If we can’t avenge the killing of our innocent people—based on their religion, in front of their wives—what can be more brutal than that? I am proud of them.” Kher, promoting his book Different But No Less, emphasized the operation’s necessity, noting, “It needed to happen, and it has happened,”. His words resonated with 65% of Indians supporting such actions, per a 2024 YouGov survey.
The Broader Context and Debate
The Pahalgam attack, executed by LeT’s proxy The Resistance Front (TRF), targeted Hindu tourists, intensifying calls for retaliation. Operation Mahadev followed Operation Sindoor’s May 7 strikes on PoK terror camps, signaling India’s zero-tolerance. However, the opposition, led by Congress’s Udit Raj, questioned the timing, asking why the operation wasn’t earlier. Pakistan’s claim of 56 “innocent” detainees being used in “staged encounters” was debunked by Shah’s evidence.
Cultural and Future Significance
Conducted near the sacred Mahadev Peak, revered by Kashmiri Pandits as Lord Shiva’s abode, the operation carries symbolic weight, coinciding with the Sawan month. For families like Rajesh Narwal, whose son died in Pahalgam, the operation brought closure. Yet, with 70% of rural Kashmir lacking surveillance, preventing future attacks remains challenging.
-By Manoj H