The Jammu and Kashmir Police have made a significant breakthrough in the probe into the April 22 Pahalgam massacre. Authorities confirmed the arrest of Mohammad Katari, accused of providing critical logistical support to the terrorists who executed the deadly attack that left 26 people dead in Baisaran Valley, a popular tourist destination near Pahalgam.
Katari&rsquo;s arrest followed months of forensic analysis of weapons and devices recovered during Operation Mahadev, the counter-offensive that tracked and eliminated the gunmen behind the killings. The seized rifles, ammunition, and communication gear were matched with ballistic evidence from the Pahalgam site, confirming their role in the massacre. &ldquo;It was confirmed that these rifles were used to murder innocent civilians,&rdquo; Union Home Minister Amit Shah told Parliament, underscoring the gravity of the findings.
The slain mastermind, Suleiman Shah alias Hashim Musa, was a former commando in Pakistan&rsquo;s Special Service Group who later joined Hafiz Saeed&rsquo;s Lashkar-e-Taiba. His infiltration in 2023 marked the beginning of a deadly trail of violence, including attacks in Baramulla and elsewhere. Shah was neutralised during Op Mahadev in July after Indian forces intercepted encrypted communications on China-made devices, deployed drones for surveillance, and launched a precision strike in Dachigam near Srinagar.
The Pahalgam massacre itself was among the worst in nearly two decades. Survivors recalled how the attackers forced villagers to reveal their religious identity before executing them. The brutality sparked outrage across India and beyond, pushing New Delhi to recalibrate its anti-terror doctrine.
In the days that followed, India launched Operation Sindoor, a swift retaliatory campaign targeting terror camps and infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The offensive included missile strikes and air raids, dismantling key facilities and exposing Pakistan&rsquo;s military vulnerabilities. The confrontation stretched nearly 100 hours before Islamabad, facing a dismantled air defence network, sought a ceasefire.
The arrest of Katari marks the first major success since Op Mahadev and highlights India&rsquo;s continued push to dismantle the terror network behind the Pahalgam attack. Security officials stressed that investigations are far from over and vowed to bring every collaborator to justice. Katari will be presented before court and remanded to judicial custody as the probe expands.
As the wounds of Pahalgam remain raw, officials say this arrest is more than a procedural step, it is a message that no perpetrator, planner, or enabler of terror will escape accountability.

Pahalgam Attack Breakthrough: Key Aide Arrested

J&K Police nab man who aided Pahalgam attackers, first big success since Op Mahadev

Pahalgam Attack Breakthrough: Key Aide Arrested

J&K Police nab man who aided Pahalgam attackers, first big success since Op Mahadev

September 25, 2025 | 11:12 IST