Samajwadi Party leader and Member of Parliament Akhilesh Yadav raised serious concerns in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday regarding the timing of the encounter involving three terrorists linked to the Pahalgam terror attack. The joint operation, named 'Operation Mahadev', was carried out by the Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Jammu and Kashmir Police.

The operation culminated in Srinagar on Monday with the neutralization of three terrorists: Suleman Shah, Afghan, and Jibran. Their elimination was officially confirmed in Parliament by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who also provided comprehensive details about the operation.

Akhilesh Yadav Raises Doubts in Lok Sabha

While speaking during the Operation Sindoor debate, Akhilesh Yadav posed a pointed question:
"Why did the encounter take place only yesterday?"
His remark triggered political curiosity and public discourse around the motive and timeline of the high-stakes anti-terror operation.

By questioning the sequence and timing of events, Akhilesh sought to highlight a possible delay or strategic concealment in Operation Mahadev, which raises deeper political and security-related implications.

Amit Shah Responds With Full Timeline of 'Operation Mahadev'

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in response, stated that Operation Mahadev began on May 22, nearly a month after the Pahalgam terror attack. Shah said that on the night of May 22, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) received critical inputs about terrorist presence in the Dachigam area, which served as the basis for launching the operation.

He clarified that the people supplying food to the terrorists were detained earlier and played a key role in identifying the bodies post-encounter. Shah assured the House that these arrests and detentions were based on credible intelligence and forensic evidence.

Details of the Operation and Forensic Confirmation

Shah stated:

"In the operation conducted yesterday, all three terrorists responsible for killing innocent civilians were eliminated. From the attack site, cartridge cases were recovered, and their forensic test had already been conducted in advance."

According to Shah, ballistic tests and forensic analysis matched the weapons recovered from the terrorists with those used in the Pahalgam attack, strengthening the evidence of their involvement.

Notably, Shah revealed that the cartridges recovered were from M9 American rifles, and a ballistic comparison confirmed the same rifles were used to kill civilians in the earlier attack. This precise forensic match helped cement the case against the three neutralized individuals.

Identification of Terrorists

The identification process followed once the terrorists were neutralized. Shah added that the individuals who had been detained earlier for aiding the terrorists were brought in and confirmed their identities:

“Once the bodies of these terrorists were brought to Srinagar, they were identified by those who were kept detained by our agencies.”

This protocol ensured that the government had irrefutable confirmation before making a public statement.

Political Undertones and Response

Akhilesh Yadav's comments did not go unnoticed in political circles. The timing of the operation raised suspicions of strategic delay or political management, especially since the topic was brought up amid ongoing national debates over counter-terror policies and internal security.

Some observers interpreted Akhilesh’s statement as a veiled criticism of the central government's handling of anti-terror operations, hinting at possible electoral or narrative manipulation.

Meanwhile, supporters of the government strongly backed Amit Shah’s detailed statement, asserting that security operations must be allowed to run their full course without political interference or hasty judgment.

Operation Sindoor and the Terrorism Narrative

This issue surfaced during a broader Lok Sabha debate on Operation Sindoor, a massive anti-terror initiative underway in Jammu and Kashmir. The Opposition has been vocal in questioning various aspects of internal security, with leaders such as Manish Tewari and Shashi Tharoor raising parallel concerns.

Amit Shah had previously challenged the Congress party on its past anti-terror efforts, even invoking incidents like the Batla House encounter and alleging that Congress leaders cried for terrorists. He asked Rahul Gandhi to list UPA-era anti-terror operations, questioning the opposition's track record on national security.

Broader Implications for Counter-Terror Policy

The questions raised by Akhilesh Yadav bring the spotlight back on India’s counter-terror policies, especially in conflict-prone areas like Jammu and Kashmir. The demand for transparent operational timelines, independent verification of evidence, and accountability from intelligence agencies is becoming louder.

However, the government continues to maintain that security operations are confidential and time-sensitive. According to them, revealing details prematurely can compromise lives, disrupt operations, and even allow terrorists to escape or regroup.

Conclusion

The Operation Mahadev encounter has not only eliminated key players of the Pahalgam terror attack, but also reignited a national conversation around security transparency, political accountability, and anti-terror efficiency.

While Akhilesh Yadav’s questions may seem politically charged, they touch on crucial aspects of governance and security management. In a democratic setup, such debates, when constructive, can contribute toward more accountable and transparent functioning of national security mechanisms.

As India continues to battle cross-border terrorism, especially in volatile regions, it becomes increasingly essential to balance national security interests with democratic transparency and civilian oversight. What remains to be seen is whether this moment will lead to deeper reforms or remain just another round of parliamentary posturing.

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