Three terrorists were killed in Srinagar’s Lidwas area during “Operation Mahadev” on Monday (July 28, 2025), the Army said. The likely role of the deceased terrorists in the Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 civilians dead on April 22, is being probed. An Army spokesman of the Chinar Corps said the terrorists engaged in intense firing during the operation in Lidwas, which is surrounded by dense forests on two sides. Lidwas is situated in the upper reaches of the Dachigam forest area. “Three terrorists were neutralised,” the Army said.
The bodies of the terrorists were recovered from the encounter spot. Preliminary reports suggested a U.S.-made carbine, an AK-47, 17 rifle grenades, and other materials were also recovered. Officials said they found a hideout where the terrorists would prepare food for themselves deep in the woods. Eatables and cooking utensils were spotted at the hideout. The Dachigam forest range has two flanks, with one flank extending toward Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district and another connecting Ganderbal district.
“The operation is still continuing and is a prolonged one. Three bodies have been observed. I don’t want to divulge any details at this time. Identification will take time,” Vidhi Kumar Birdi, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Zone, said.On the likely involvement of two slain terrorists in the Pahalgam attack, he said: “Parties [of security forces, including the J&K Police and the Central Reserve Police Force] are there. We will share details at an opportune time.”
Officials said the process of identifying the deceased terrorists was under way. The Army described them as “hardcore terrorists” and termed the operation a “major success”.