Srinagar : In a major counterterror win, Indian security forces eliminated three heavily armed TRF terrorists, including notorious Pakistani commander Hasim Musa, in a high-voltage encounter near Mount Mahadev, on the outskirts of Srinagar.

The gunfight erupted during a joint search-and-destroy operation by the Army, CRPF, and J&K Police following intel that militants were hiding in the dense Dachigam forests, perilously close to the Amarnath Yatra route.

Around 11 AM, forces zeroed in on the location, triggering a fierce firefight. All three terrorists—believed to be top operatives of Lashkar-backed TRF—were neutralized on the spot. Among them was Asif Fauji, infamously known as Hasim Musa, a high-ranking TRF figure suspected of engineering the recent Pahalgam terror attack.

J&K Police had earlier identified five militants tied to the Pahalgam strike — three Pakistanis (Hasim Musa, Suleman Shah alias Yunus, and Abu Talha alias Asif) and two locals (Adil Goori from Anantnag and Ahsan from Pulwama).

Today’s op confirms the elimination of the Pakistani trio, while the hunt continues for the remaining two.

Operation Mahadev is ongoing, with forces sweeping the rugged terrain of Dachigam. Tight security remains in place across the Valley, especially near pilgrimage zones, to thwart any further infiltration or attacks.