Big Success For Security Forces: LeT Commander Among 3 Terrorists Killed In Shopian Encounter

In a major success for security forces, Lashkar-e-Taiba operational chief Shahid Kuttay was killed along with two other terrorists in a gunfight in the Shukroo forest area of Keller in South Kashmir’s Shopian district. Top police officials said that the operational chief commander of LeT, Shahid Kuttay, was killed along with two others in the gunfight. The identity of the two have been identified, and the identity of one is yet to be confirmed.

Shahid, a resident of Chotipora Heerpora, Shopian, was one of the most wanted terrorists. He joined terror ranks on March 8, 2023, and was involved in many terror-related cases.

Shahid Kuttay, s/o Mohd Yousuf Kuttay, r/o Chotipora Heerpora, Shopian, joined the terror ranks on March 8, 2023. He was a Category A terrorist. He was involved in the firing incident at Danish Resort on April 8, 2024, in which two German tourists and one driver were injured. He was involved in the killing of a BJP Sarpanch at Heerpora, Shopian, on May 18, 2024. He is suspected to be involved in the killing of a TA personnel at Behibagh, Kulgam, on February 3, 2025, sources said.

The second terrorist has been identified as Adnan Shafi Dar, s/o Mohd Shafi Dar, r/o Wanduna Melhora, Shopian. He joined on October 18, 2024. He was with LeT and categorized as a Category C terrorist. He was involved in the killing of a non-local laborer at Wachi, Shopian, on October 18, 2024.

The identity of the third terrorist is being ascertained, officials said.

Earlier, a gunfight broke out between security forces and terrorists in the forest area after a specific input was received about the presence of terrorists in the Shukroo forests of Keller village in Shopian district.

In another development, the investigating agencies of the Pahalgam attack published a poster of three involved terrorists and announced a reward of ?20 lakh for anyone who provides information about them. The identity of the informer will be kept confidential. The posters were pasted at many places in Shopian, Kulgam, Pulwama, and Anantnag districts. The three terrorists on the poster are identified as Mussa, Ali Bhai, and local Adil Thokar.

After hitting nine terror camps in PoK and Pakistan under Operation Sindoor, operations have now intensified against active terrorists in Jammu & Kashmir and their supporters.

The SIA conducted raids the day before yesterday at 20 locations in the houses of OGWs in South Kashmir, stating that they were involved in sharing strategic information about security forces' movements and installations.

Prime Minister Modi yesterday gave a clear message to Pakistan and terrorists that Operation Sindoor is not closed, it's just kept in abeyance. If Pakistan's behavior doesn't change, the operation will be resumed. He also said terror and talks, terror and trade, and water and blood can't go together. "If they fire a bullet, we will answer with a shell," he said.