LeT commander among 3 terrorists killed in Shopian gunfight

Srinagar, May 13: Three terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in the Shukroo forest area of Keller, in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, on Tuesday. The operation was launched based on specific intelligence inputs, the Indian Army said in a statement.
Among those killed was Shahid Kuttay, the operational commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). He was eliminated along with two other terrorists in the intense gunfight.
As per police records, Shahid, a resident of Chotipora Heerpora in Shopian, had joined the ranks of Lashkar-e-Taiba on March 8, 2023, and was among the most wanted terrorists in the region.
He was involved in several terror-related incidents, including the April 8, 2024, attack at Danish Resort, in which two German tourists and a driver were injured. Shahid was also accused of the targeted killings of a BJP sarpanch and a Territorial Army personnel in Beighbagh, Kulgam.
The second slain terrorist was identified as Adnan Shafi Dar, son of Mohammad Shafi Dar, a resident of Wanduna Melhora. Efforts are underway to ascertain the identity of the third terrorist, officials said.
The Army, in its official statement, three terrorists were killed in “Operation Keller. Briefing about the details, on 13 May 2025, based on specific intelligence from a #RashtriyaRifles unit about the presence of terrorists in the general area of Shoekal Keller, Shopian, the IndianArmy launched a search and destroy operation.
“During the operation, terrorists opened heavy fire, resulting in a fierce firefight and the elimination of three hardcore terrorists. The operation is ongoing,” the spokesman said.
Security sources indicated there could still be two to three terrorists hiding in the dense Shukroo forest area. Combing operations are continuing in the region.
The Shopian encounter is part of intensified counter-terror efforts across South Kashmir and the upper reaches of Kishtwar, especially following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which left 26 civilians dead and several others injured, including foreign nationals.
Meanwhile, in a parallel development, posters have surfaced in various parts of Pulwama district, announcing a reward of ₹20 lakh for credible information leading to the capture or killing of the terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack.
Earlier, the Jammu and Kashmir Police released sketches and identities of the three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists suspected of executing the April 22 massacre. Each carries a reward of ₹20 lakh, and all are believed to be still at large.