New Delhi: Security forces have eliminated three terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack in a joint operation by the Army, CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police near Srinagar, claimed Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, July 29.
Participating in the special discussion on Operation Sindoor, Shah alleged the terrorists were killed under Operation Mahadev the previous day. They have been identified as Suleman alias Faizal, Afghani and Jibran.
“While Suleman was an A-category commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Afghani was also an A-category Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist, Jibran too was a notorious and wanted terrorist. All three were involved in the killing of our citizens at Baisaran valley in Pahalgam have now been eliminated,” he said.
To be sure about the identity of the terrorists, those detained by security forces for helping the terrorists were brought in and confirmed that the three were involved in the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Shah told the House.
“People who used to supply food, provide shelter to the terrorists, were detained earlier. Once the bodies of these terrorists were brought to Srinagar, they were identified by those who our agencies detained,” he said.
The arms: M-9 and AK-47 rifles: recovered from them were flown to Chandigarh on Monday night in a special flight for examination at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory.
The empty cartridges found at Pahalgam and those after test firing by the recovered guns were matched by the forensic lab, Shah said. The ballistic report is with him, he added.
“Six forensic experts have confirmed to me on a video call this morning that these are the same bullets used in the Pahalgam attack,” he said.
The home minister said security forces had recovered Pakistani voter IDs of two of the killed terrorists as well as chocolates made in Pakistan and the weapons.
After the Pahalgam attack, security forces were instructed not to allow terrorists responsible for the dastardly act to leave the country
Describing the Pahalgam attack as barbaric, Shah said innocent civilians were brutally killed in front of their families after being asked about their religion and were murdered with extreme cruelty.
Expressing heartfelt condolences for those who had lost their lives in Pahalgam and during Pakistani shelling on civilians, the home minister said due to Pakistani firing, civilians were martyred and some gurdwaras and temples were damaged.
Take responsibility for “security lapse” at Pahalgam: Kharge
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said Amit Shah must take responsibility for the “security lapse” which led to the Pahalgam terror attack, and demanded that accountability be fixed.
He was citing Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha’s statement.
Speaking during the special discussion on ‘Operation Sindoor’ in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in the Upper House, the Congress leader attacked the government and took a jibe at PM Narendra Modi’s unscheduled visit to Pakistan in 2015.
Kharge said the prime minister should have been present at all-party meet instead of campaigning in Bihar, and questioned Modi’s sincerity towards national security.
Demanding accountability, the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha said the government should admit its ‘lapses’ and ‘failure’ in stopping terror attacks.
He asked if Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor’s statement on security lapses was aimed at “saving” the home minister.
“Jammu Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha himself admitted that Pahalgam was a security lapse and what happened in Pahalgam was unfortunate, innocent people were brutally killed. (Sinha said) I take all responsibility for the incident. However the home minister must take responsibility for security lapse not the LG,” Kharge said.
Congress President and LoP Kharge accused the Modi govt of being arrogant, and not responding to letters by the opposition.
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