In a significant counter-terrorism breakthrough, Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command, visited North Kashmir on Tuesday to commend the Indian Army troops for their exemplary performance in Operation Mahadev.

The operation, launched on July 28 in the Lidwas area near Dara, was a joint effort by the Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Jammu & Kashmir Police. Acting on precise intelligence about terrorist movement in the region, the security forces launched a swift assault that culminated in the elimination of three hardcore militants: Suleman Shah, Abu Hamza, and Yasir.

The encounter began at approximately 11:00 AM and involved intense exchanges of gunfire in the rugged, forested terrain. A militant hideout was discovered during the operation, with security forces recovering advanced weapons, including AK-47 rifles, carbines, and 17 rifle grenades. Officials believe the cache was part of a larger plan to conduct a major terror attack in the valley.

Suleman Shah, believed to be the mastermind behind the recent Pahalgam attack that killed multiple security personnel, was among those neutralized. His death marks a major success for the counter-terror operations in the Kashmir Valley.

Lt. Gen. Sharma praised the troops for their precision, resilience, and coordination during the high-altitude operation. The Dara region, popular among trekkers and difficult to access, posed logistical challenges. However, the Indian Army ensured swift deployment of reinforcements to seal off the area and prevent any escape.

This operation follows India’s recent offensive actions across the border, including Operation Sindoor in May 2025, aimed at dismantling terror launchpads inside Pakistan-occupied territory. The current campaign in Kashmir is part of a broader push to eliminate active militants and dismantle sleeper cells operating across the region.

Authorities are continuing search and combing operations in Lidwas and surrounding forested areas. An official conclusion to Operation Mahadev is expected soon as forces assess the extent of the terror network’s presence in the area.

In a major success under Operation Chowkibal, security forces recovered a significant cache of arms and ammunition in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, disrupting a possible terror conspiracy near the Line of Control (LoC).

The operation was launched jointly by the 160 Battalion of the Territorial Army, 5 PARA, and Jammu and Kashmir Police from Police Station Kralpora, based on intelligence inputs provided by Military Intelligence. The raid was conducted between July 27 and 28 in the Chowkibal area.

The target of the operation was the residence of Wali Mohammad Mir, a resident of Marsary village in Chowkibal. During the search, the following war-like stores were recovered:

• One AK-56 rifle
• Three AK-56 magazines
• Seventeen Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) grenades
• More than 1,000 rounds of AK-series ammunition

Security officials described the seizure as a crucial blow to militant logistics and cross-border arms smuggling, especially in a region that has historically seen infiltration attempts and terror activity.

An FIR (No. 53/2025) has been registered at Police Station Kralpora under relevant sections of the Arms Act (7/25), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (13, 23, 39), and the Explosive Substances Act (Section 5).

A senior official stated that timely and coordinated action helped avert a serious security threat. “Operation Chowkibal demonstrates the high level of synergy between the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police. Investigations are now focused on identifying the source of the weapons and any militant links,” the official said.

Follow-up searches and intelligence-based operations are expected to continue in the area to dismantle any remaining parts of the network involved in storing and transporting illegal arms.

Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Northern Command, briefed Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today on the successful culmination of Operation Mahadev. He was accompanied by Lt. Gen. Prashant Srivastava, General Officer Commanding 15 Corps.

During the meeting, the Lieutenant Governor praised the Indian Army, CRPF, and Jammu & Kashmir Police for their coordinated efforts in eliminating three Pakistani terrorists involved in the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, which had claimed 26 civilian lives.

Lt. Gen. Sharma informed that the operation was the result of extensive search efforts carried out over the past few months across South Kashmir, specifically in the dense Dachigam forest. Intelligence agencies had received consistent inputs about terrorist presence in the area, prompting the formation of special joint teams.

Acting on specific intelligence, the Army, J&K Police, and CRPF launched a high-risk mission deep into the forested region. The operation concluded with the elimination of all three terrorists, including the suspected mastermind of the Pahalgam attack.

The LG commended the synergy among the security forces and intelligence agencies, noting that Operation Mahadev stands as a strong message against cross-border terrorism and a crucial step toward restoring peace in the Kashmir Valley.

Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) launched the Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) ATAL, a Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV), during a formal ceremony held at Vasco-da-Gama, Goa, on July 29, 2025. This is the sixth vessel in a series of eight indigenously designed FPVs being constructed by GSL, a premier Defence Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Defence.

Designed in-house by GSL, the vessel is 52 meters long, 8 meters wide, and has a displacement of 320 tonnes. These high-speed vessels are built for coastal patrol, island protection, offshore asset security, and other crucial missions such as anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, and search and rescue operations, thereby strengthening India’s maritime domain awareness.

Speaking on the occasion, GSL Chairman and Managing Director Brajesh Kumar Upadhyay said that the launch of ICGS ATAL reflects the spirit of indigenisation and innovation by Team GSL, even amid global supply chain disruptions. Shri Rozy Agarwal, Principal Internal Financial Advisor at Coast Guard Headquarters and the chief guest of the event, praised GSL’s execution capabilities and its important contribution to national maritime security.

Senior dignitaries from the Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy, Ministry of Defence, and strategic industry partners attended the launch event. The ceremony marks another milestone in India’s ongoing push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Indian Army Para Commando died in a tragic road accident just 20 km from his home while on his way back to duty. The deceased, 25-year-old Panna Singh of 6 PARA (Special Forces), was returning from his village Ozhiyana (Byawar) to board a train to Jammu when an unknown vehicle hit his bike near Gohana village around 11 PM on Sunday. The driver fled the scene, and Singh died on the spot.

Station Officer Jitendra Faujdar confirmed that Singh was en route to Ajmer to catch a train to Jammu when the accident occurred. Police identified him through documents found in his pocket. He had come home earlier to celebrate Raksha Bandhan and had tied rakhi with his three sisters.

His mortal remains were brought back to Ozhiyana village, where his final rites were conducted with full military honors on Monday evening. A moving tricolor procession spanning 28 kilometers was held from Amrit Kaur Hospital in Byawar to his village, joined by hundreds of locals riding bikes and chanting slogans. Singh’s 1.5-year-old son Mayank lit the funeral pyre in a heart-wrenching farewell, while his mother, wife Pooja, and siblings broke down during the last rites. An Army unit from Nasirabad presented the tricolor to his father Prabhu Singh and offered a Guard of Honor.

Panna Singh joined the Army in 2018 and was deployed with D Team, 6 PARA in Jammu-Kashmir since 2019. He is survived by his wife Pooja, four-year-old daughter Sapna, and son Mayank. His younger brother Pintu is preparing to join the Army, and his youngest brother Sunil is in Class 9. The entire village united in grief as the braveheart was laid to rest.

Eight years after the high-altitude military standoff between India and China, the Doklam plateau in Sikkim is set to welcome tourists from September 2025 as part of India’s battlefield tourism initiative.

Located at an altitude of 13,780 feet near the tri-junction of India, Bhutan, and China, Doklam gained national attention in June 2017 when Chinese troops attempted to build a road in territory claimed by Bhutan. The Indian Army had intervened to support its Himalayan neighbour, leading to a 73-day face-off before China backed off.

The site is now one of three strategic locations in Sikkim selected by the Defence Ministry under the Bharat Rannbhoomi Darshan programme to promote battlefield tourism. “We are preparing to open Doklam for visitors in September, when the tourist season starts in Sikkim,” said C. Subhakar Rao, the State’s Additional Chief Secretary for Tourism and Civil Aviation.

The two other locations are Nathu La and Cho La—both known for clashes between Indian and Chinese forces in 1967, well before Sikkim became an Indian state in 1975. Nathu La, at 14,140 feet, is already a popular tourist destination around 58 km from Gangtok, while Cho La, sitting at 17,780 feet, is being developed with rest areas, parking spaces, and tourist amenities in coordination with the Army.

Access to Cho La is via Tamzey, a high-altitude military outpost that also offers medical support for tourists facing altitude sickness.

Army engineers are working against harsh terrain and high-altitude conditions to complete the required infrastructure. “The idea is to preserve and showcase India’s valour in protecting its borders while promoting tourism,” a senior Army officer said.

Another major inclusion in the circuit is Gurudongmar Lake, considered sacred by both Buddhists and Sikhs. Located at 17,800 feet in Sikkim’s Mangan district, the lake has been designated a Shaurya Gantavya (destination of valour).

Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh are currently the only two northeastern States with such military-heritage tourism circuits. Arunachal’s Tawang and Walong—battlefields from the 1962 India-China war—are already part of the Shaurya Gantavya programme.

With Doklam opening to the public, Sikkim is set to become a hub for high-altitude patriotism-driven travel, giving tourists a glimpse of India’s strategic frontiers and the stories of courage they hold.