TL;DR: J&K Police arrested Mohammad Kataria, who aided terrorists in the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians. The arrest follows forensic leads from Operation Mahadev.
What Happened
- Mohammad Kataria was arrested for providing logistical support to terrorists involved in the April 22 Pahalgam attack, sources told NDTV.
- His arrest followed forensic analysis of weapons recovered in Operation Mahadev, which ended in July with the killing of three terrorists.
- The weapons were sent to a lab in Chandigarh; ballistic analysis confirmed they were used in the attack.
- "We generated empty bullet shells by firing these rifles and matched them to those found in Pahalgam," said Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
"It was confirmed that these rifles were used to murder innocent civilians."
Background: Pahalgam Attack and Op Mahadev
- On April 22, 2025, militants killed 26 civilians—mainly Hindu tourists—at Baisaran Valley, Pahalgam, marking the worst civilian attack since Mumbai 2008.
- A Lashkar-e-Taiba faction initially claimed responsibility.
- Operation Mahadev, launched on May 22, tracked suspects via encrypted communications and drone surveillance.
- On July 28, three terrorists, including Suleiman Shah alias Hashim Musa, the alleged mastermind, were killed by Indian forces.
- Shah was a former Pakistan Army commando and later joined LeT.
- He first infiltrated India in 2023 and was involved in multiple attacks before Pahalgam.
Broader Security Measures
- The government announced a ₹20 lakh reward for information on Suleiman Shah prior to his death.
- Agencies have arrested other local suspects, demolished militant-linked properties, and conducted extensive search operations in the region.
- The arrest of Kataria is the first major development since the conclusion of Operation Mahadev and reflects continued efforts to track all individuals involved.