In a significant counter-terrorism operation, security forces in Shopian, South Kashmir, eliminated 3 key terrorists belonging to The Resistance Front (TRF) – an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba – during a gunfight in a remote forest village on Tuesday.

Among those killed were Shahid Kuttay, local commander of the TRF, and his associate Adnan Shafi Dar. Jammu and Kashmir Police sources indicated that the third slain terrorist is yet to be identified.

Authorities are investigating whether Kuttay had any connection to the deadly April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 tourists were gunned down. This operation marks the first successful elimination of terrorists since that incident.

Clamping down on terror

Security forces, including the army, CRPF and the local police, remain actively engaged in dominating exercises across Jammu and Kashmir to track down and neutralise terrorists, particularly those who have infiltrated from across the border.

Acting on specific intelligence inputs regarding the presence of terrorists in the remote Shukroo, Kellar villages, the army cordoned off the area and launched a search operation. Police and CRPF personnel subsequently joined the operation. During the search, the hiding terrorists opened fire on the security forces, who responded with full force, leading to the killing of the three hardcore operatives.

A police official speaking to businessline revealed that one of the three terrorists is believed to be a Pakistani national and that they are suspected to be part of the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba’s TRF. The operation is ongoing to ascertain if any other TRF terrorists are present in the area.

2 terrorists school dropouts

The Indian Army confirmed the operation on X, detailing the intelligence-based action by a Rashtriya Rifles unit in the Shoekal Keller area of Shopian, the ensuing heavy exchange of fire, and the successful elimination of three “hard-core terrorists.”

Local police identified Shahid Kuttay, a resident of Chotipura, Shopian, who joined the TRF in 2023. He was a highly radicalised individual, per the police, who was active in Shopian and surrounding areas and had taken up arms after dropping out of school. His associate, Adnan Shafi Dar, was from Wandina village, Shopian, and had also discontinued his higher education.

Following the operation in Shukroo, the police recovered arms, ammunition, and food supplies from the terrorists’ hideout. Intelligence suggests that foreign terrorists have moved to higher mountainous regions in Jammu following the Pahalgam attack to avoid contact with security forces.

With inputs from Delhi Bureau

Published on May 13, 2025