Operation Mahadev, Objectives, Key Highlights, Full Details

Operation Mahadev was launched after the technical surveillance check related to the terrorist attacks on 28th July 2025, Monday where the Indian Army’s Chinar Corps, with CRPF and J&K Police killed three Pakistani Terrorists in Lidwas area near Harwan, on the outskirts of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.

At around 11am, a joint team of 24 Rashtriya Rifles and 2 Para Units detected terrorist activity in Mulnar, Harwan which resulted in firefight and encounter of 3 heavily armed terrorists. One of the terrorists was identified as Jibran, a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) who played a major role in the Sonamarg Tunnel Attack, October 2023.

Also Read: Operation Sindoor

What is Operation Mahadev?

Operation Mahadev is a joint counter-terror operation launched by Indian security forces, including the Indian Army’s Chinar Corps, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the Jammu and Kashmir Police. The operation was initiated based on credible forces that the militants involved in the Pahalgam Terror Attack had moved into the dense forest of Dachigam National Park and the nearby Dara area approximately 20 kilometres from Srinagar. The name “Mahadev” draws from both the region’s rugged mountainous terrain and the religious significance associated with the Mahadev peak in Kashmir.

Operation Mahadev Overview

The table mentioned below includes the Operation Mahadev Overview:

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Operation Mahadev

• Over the past month, intelligence agencies seized suspicious communications originating from Dachigam forest. These inputs pointed to the movement of foreign terrorists believed to be connected to the April 22 Pahalgam Attack 2025.
• Reports from local communities and villagers in the Dara and Harwan regions indicated sightings of unfamiliar individuals. This prompted on-ground verification by security forces.
• A coordinated force comprising personnel from the 24 Rashtriya Rifles, 4 PARA (Special Forces), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police was positioned to Lidwas and its adjoining forested zones.
• Around 11 AM on July 28, security forces established contact with three terrorists concealed in a heavily camouflaged hideout within the forest. A swift and intense exchange of fire ensued, leading to the neutralisation of all three terrorists.
• As per SSP Srinagar, GV Sundeep Chakravarty, the deceased were identified as Pakistani nationals linked to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) group. While their precise involvement in the Pahalgam Attack is being investigated, security forces recovered arms, ammunition, and digital devices from the encounter site.

Dara Region Significance

The Dara-Harwan-Dachigam has thick forests, rocky slopes, and barely any local community around. It’s the kind of terrain that gives terrorists cover and time. The location is close to Srinagar and tourist spots like Pahalgam and Gulmarg which is a major reason that the Army is patrolling here with more boots on the ground, better tech surveillance, and tighter coordination with local nomads to keep tabs on movement.

Operation Mahadev Official Statement

• Chinar Corps (via X): “OP MAHADEV – Contact established in General Area Lidwas. Three terrorists neutralised. Operation continues.”
• SSP Srinagar: “All three terrorists were Pakistani and belonged to LeT. Their direct link to the Pahalgam attack is under investigation.”

Operation Mahadev Objectives

• To eliminate the terrorists who are covering the territory of India.
• Coordination between Indian Army, CRPF, and J&K Police has visibly improved in recent weeks.
• Stronger on-ground intelligence, aided by active local community involvement, helped pinpoint movements.
• Sustained surveillance and rapid response proved crucial in intercepting and eliminating the threat of future attacks.