Following the killing of three terrorists linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its affiliate “The Resistance Front” (TRF) in a gunfight in Shopian district, South Kashmir, the Army reported that the individuals were actively involved in recent terror activities in the area.
The slain terrorists were identified as Shahid Kuttay, Adnan Shafi Dar, and Ehsan ul Haq Sheikh, all residents of Shopian. They were killed on Tuesday during an encounter in the upper Keller region. Officials stated that Kuttay held the position of operational commander for LeT in South Kashmir.
According to the Army, the operation was initiated based on intelligence regarding terrorist presence in the Keller forest. A joint team comprising the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) carried out the operation, which resulted in the killing of the three “hardcore terrorists,” including the LeT/TRF commander.
In a statement, the Army said, “The three were actively involved in recent terror activities in the region. Recoveries from the operation include AK series rifles, a large quantity of ammunition, grenades and other war-like stores.”
The Army further emphasized that the operation was a result of strong coordination between security forces and intelligence agencies.
Reiterating their commitment, the Army stated, “We remain unwavering in our mission to eliminate terrorism. Every attempt to disturb peace will be met with decisive and unrelenting force.”
Defence officials indicated that security forces have significantly increased operations against LeT and other terror groups following the Pahalgam attack. Vulnerable routes and areas in South Kashmir have been re-secured and are under increased surveillance.
A defence official stated, “For the past several days, we had continuous inputs about terrorist movement in Shopian. On the night of May 12, their presence was confirmed in the upper reaches of Keller.”
A swift joint operation was launched, and on the morning of May 13, at approximately 9 AM, troops identified the movement of three armed terrorists.
“When challenged, they opened indiscriminate fire. Our troops retaliated effectively, resulting in the neutralisation of all three,” the official added, noting that the trio were responsible for numerous terrorist incidents in the region.
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