Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday felicitated armed forces, paramilitary, and Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel involved in the successful ‘Operation Mahadev’, which neutralised all three Pakistan-backed terrorists responsible for the April 22 Pahalgam massacre.
The Home Minister hailed their “extraordinary bravery” and said the operation had provided a sense of closure to the families of the victims who lost their lives in the cold-blooded attack at Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam.
On April 22, terrorists had singled out tourists based on religion before killing 26 people at point-blank range — including 25 Hindus and one local Muslim ponywalla. A Nepalese tourist was also among those killed.
During the three-month-long Operation Mahadev, security forces tracked down and eliminated all the perpetrators of the massacre. Shah noted that forensic evidence and investigations confirmed the neutralised terrorists were indeed the ones behind the killings.
At a special ceremony, Amit Shah personally honoured the soldiers, CRPF commandos, and J&K Police personnel with mementoes and shawls, appreciating their courage and dedication. The personnel also shared their experiences and challenges faced during the mission with the Home Minister.
The Home Minister further emphasised that Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev had sent a strong message to Pakistan and terror groups about the consequences of targeting Indian citizens. Operation Sindoor, conducted from May 6 to 10, struck terror bases across Pakistan, while Operation Mahadev concluded in July with the elimination of the Pahalgam attackers.
“Both these operations stand as testimony to India’s resolve to safeguard its citizens and punish perpetrators of terror,” Shah said.
