Srinagar, May 13: Three terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces on Tuesday in the Shukroo Keller area of Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir, officials reported.
Acting on specific intelligence regarding the presence of militants, security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the area. The operation escalated into a gunfight after the terrorists opened fire, prompting retaliation from the forces.
According to a senior police official, the deceased were affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group. Two of the militants were identified as Shahid Kuttay and Adnan Shafi, while the identity of the third is still being confirmed.
Shahid Kuttay, a resident of Chotipora Heerpora in Shopian, had joined militant ranks in March 2023. Categorized as an "A" level terrorist and a top LeT commander, Kuttay was allegedly involved in multiple terrorist activities, including the killing of a BJP sarpanch in Heerpora on May 18, 2024. Authorities had demolished his residence on April 26, shortly after an attack in Pahalgam.
The second identified terrorist, Adnan Shafi, hailed from the Wanduna Melhora area of Shopian and had joined LeT in October 2024. He was classified as a "C" category terrorist and was involved in the killing of a non-local laborer in Wachi, Shopian, on October 18, 2024.
Operations in the region remain ongoing as security forces continue efforts to maintain peace and stability.
