New Delhi, August 27 (HS) : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday felicitated personnel of the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) who successfully neutralized the terrorists behind the recent Pahalgam attack under the joint mission codenamed “Operation Mahadev.”

Extending the nation’s gratitude, Shah said the felicitation reflected the respect of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India for those who reinforced citizens’ faith in security. “At a time when Kashmir’s tourism was witnessing a peak, terrorists made a futile attempt to derail the ‘Kashmir Mission’ through the Pahalgam assault, but our brave forces shattered their designs,” he said.

The Home Minister recalled that while “Operation Sindoor” had instilled public relief, “Operation Mahadev” transformed that relief into unshakable confidence. Both missions, he underlined, delivered a stern warning to terror masterminds about the grim consequences of targeting innocent lives in India.

Citing forensic confirmation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Shah noted that the neutralized terrorists were the same assailants who brutalized civilians in Pahalgam. “The Army, CRPF, and J&K Police have yet again proven that no matter how terrorists alter their tactics, they cannot wound India and escape,” he declared, adding that the J&K Police were now playing a leading role in the fight against militancy.

He emphasized that across the political spectrum and among common citizens alike, Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev have drawn widespread admiration for the security forces. “India’s aspiration for leadership in every domain is anchored in this assurance of security,” Shah said.

Notably, Operation Mahadev was launched to eliminate the masterminds of the Pahalgam terror attack. Acting on precise intelligence, security forces engaged in a prolonged July 28 encounter in which three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists – Suleman, Afghan, and Jibran – were killed. The success, officials said, not only restored calm to the Valley but also strengthened trust among locals and tourists in the region’s safety.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar