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New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested Mohammad Katari, a man accused of providing logistical support to the terrorists behind the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 innocent lives.
According to sources, Katari’s arrest came after forensic analysis of weapons and equipment recovered during Operation Mahadev in July, when security forces tracked and neutralized three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists, including the alleged mastermind Suleiman Shah alias Hashim Musa.
Police confirmed Katari will be produced in court and remanded to judicial custody. Officials said this is the first major breakthrough since Operation Mahadev, underlining the government’s focus on ensuring every individual linked to the attack is brought to justice.
Operation Mahadev: How Terrorists Were Eliminated
Operation Mahadev was launched following intelligence reports of terrorists hiding in Dachigam near Srinagar. After weeks of surveillance and intercepting encrypted communication on China-made devices, security forces initiated an assault on July 28.
- 8:00 am – Drone deployed for visual confirmation
- 9:30 am – Rashtriya Rifles & Special Forces moved in
- 11:00 am – Gunfight began
- 11:45 am – One terrorist killed while attempting escape
- 12:45 pm – All three terrorists, including Shah, were eliminated
Recovered weapons were later matched to the Pahalgam killings through forensic analysis in Chandigarh.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed Parliament, “Empty bullet shells were test-fired from these rifles and matched with those recovered from Pahalgam. It was confirmed that these rifles were used to murder innocent civilians.”
About Suleiman Shah – The Mastermind
Shah, once a commando in the Pakistan Army’s elite Special Service Group, later joined Lashkar-e-Taiba under UN-designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed.
- First infiltrated India in September 2023
- Led an attack in October 2024 that killed seven civilians
- Orchestrated the Baramulla strike that killed four security personnel
- In April 2025, masterminded the deadliest J&K attack in nearly two decades
J&K Police had earlier announced a ₹20 lakh reward for information leading to his capture or killing.
Diplomatic Fallout & Operation Sindoor
The Pahalgam attack not only left 26 people dead but also triggered a major diplomatic crisis with Pakistan. The Indian government retaliated by suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and launching Operation Sindoor, a large-scale military response.
On May 7, the Indian Air Force and Army struck nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK. Pakistan responded with drone and missile strikes, but Indian forces successfully intercepted them.
The 100-hour conflict ended only after Pakistan, facing heavy losses and a collapsed air defence network, requested a ceasefire.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi later declared that India had adopted a more forceful doctrine to respond to future terror attacks.
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