Post-Encounter Evidence Confirms Pakistan-Origin of Terrorist Trio killed in Op. Mahadev: Report

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Crucially, GPS coordinates retrieved from Suleman Shah's Garmin watch matched the firing positions reported by eyewitnesses at the scene.

TERROR TRIO: From left, Pahalgam terrorists Jibran, Suleiman Shah and Hamza Afghani (Image Courtesy: India Today) Post-Encounter Evidence Confirms Pakistan-Origin of Terrorist Trio killed in Op. Mahadev: Report

Post-Encounter Evidence Confirms Pakistan-Origin of Terrorist Trio Neutralized in Operation Mahadev: Report

Pakistan-Origin of Terrorist Trio killed in Operation Mahadev Latest News: The post-encounter evidence released by security agencies confirms that the three terrorists neutralized on 28 July in the Dachigam area of Srinagar, during Operation Mahadev, were Pakistani nationals, India Today reported.

According to the report, the security agencies identified Suleman Shah as the mastermind and lead shooter in the Pahalgam attack. The second gunman was Abu Hamza, also known as "Afghani," while the third shooter was Yasir, alias Jibran.

Two laminated voter ID slips issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan were recovered from the bodies of Suleman Shah and Abu Hamza, confirming their Pakistani citizenship. The voter serial numbers on the slips matched entries in the electoral rolls of Lahore (NA-125) and Gujranwala (NA-79) respectively.

Further evidence came from a micro SD card retrieved from a damaged satellite phone, which contained biometric records from NADRA (Pakistan's national citizen registry) for all three men. This included their fingerprints, facial templates, and family tree records, indicating their registered addresses in Changa Manga (Kasur District) and Koiyan village, near Rawalakot in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Additionally, wrappers of Pakistani chocolate brands, such as 'Candyland' and 'Chocomax', were found in their possession.

Forensic analysis of 7.62x39 mm shell casings recovered from the Baisaran attack site, where 26 civilians were killed, matched striation marks on the three AK-103 rifles seized from the terrorists.

DNA analysis also confirmed their involvement. Mitochondrial profiles extracted from blood found on a torn shirt in Pahalgam matched the DNA of the three slain terrorists.

Intelligence agencies confirmed that the trio had crossed the Line of Control (LoC) near the Gurez sector in May 2022, based on intercepted radio communication from the Pakistani side. After crossing, they took shelter in a seasonal hut (dhok) at Hill Park, about 2 km from Baisaran. Two local Kashmiris, Parvaiz and Bashir Ahmad, confessed to providing them shelter and cooked meals.

On April 22, the terrorists trekked to the Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, where they carried out the brutal attack at 2:30 PM. Afterward, they fled northeast into the dense Dachigam forest.

Crucially, GPS coordinates retrieved from Suleman Shah’s Garmin watch matched the firing positions reported by eyewitnesses at the scene.

The trio was ultimately neutralized three months after the deadly attack.

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