Security forces achieved a significant breakthrough in Jammu and Kashmir by neutralizing Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Hashim Musa in a joint operation in Budgam district. The counter-terror operation brought an end to a 24-day manhunt for the terrorist, who had sustained bullet injuries in an earlier engagement on September 5 but managed to slip away into hideouts. While his associate Yasir was eliminated during that earlier encounter, Musa evaded capture until forces tracked him down and cornered him in Gurwaithkalan on September 29.
The September 5 Engagement and Musa's Escape
On September 5, security personnel cordoned off a location following intelligence inputs, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire with terrorists. Hashim Musa was struck by bullets during the firefight, while his fellow militant, Yasir, was neutralized on the spot by the forces. Taking advantage of the dense terrain and darkness, an injured Musa fled the cordon before the perimeter could be fully tightened.
Following his escape, Musa went deep underground, constantly shifting locations to evade detection. To investigators, he appeared to have vanished without a trace, prompting security agencies to launch an extensive search effort. The primary objective was unraveling the covert support network, logistic channels, and safe houses that were facilitating his movement while nursing his injuries.
Intelligence Lead at Gurwaithkalan and Operation Korang
The breakthrough came on Tuesday, September 29, when security agencies received actionable intelligence regarding the presence of terrorists in the Gurwaithkalan area of Budgam. Acting swiftly on the information, a joint cordon was thrown around the suspect location by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the CRPF. As search teams closed in on the hideout, they observed suspicious movement, establishing contact with the trapped militants.
Forces issued surrender calls, giving the terrorists an opportunity to lay down their arms. The militants responded by opening indiscriminate fire on the search teams, triggering an intense retaliatory gunfight. In the ensuing exchange, Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Hashim Musa was killed. The Indian Army's Chinar Corps confirmed the details of the engagement, noting that the joint cordon and search mission launched in the Korang area of Yousmarg was codenamed 'Operation Korang.' Reinforcements were deployed following the firefight to sustain an extensive sanitization operation across the vicinity.
Neutralization of the Four-Member Lashkar Cell Active Since 2022
Hashim Musa's elimination marks the culmination of a targeted campaign against a dedicated four-member Lashkar-e-Taiba cell that had been active in Jammu and Kashmir since 2022. The group comprised Abu Talha, Suleman, Junaid Ahmad, and Hashim Musa. Security agencies had tracked the module for months due to their continuous attempts to destabilize peace across the valley.
The first major breakthrough against this cell occurred in December 2024, when security forces eliminated Junaid Ahmad in an encounter. A mobile phone recovered from Junaid's possession contained a crucial photograph featuring all four terrorists together. That digital evidence provided intelligence agencies with actionable insights into the operational links, internal structure, and identities of the cadre belonging to the network.
Systematic Rollback of the Entire Terror Group
Following the recovery of intelligence from Junaid, security agencies systematically tracked the remaining operatives of the module. In April 2025, forces cornered and neutralized Abu Talha. Later, in September 2026, Yasir was gunned down in the September 5 engagement that left Musa wounded. With Musa's death on September 29 in Budgam after nearly three and a half weeks on the run, security forces confirmed that all four core terrorists associated with the 2022 Lashkar cell have now been eliminated.
