Operation Keller: TRF leader among three terrorists killed in Shopian by Indian forces.

Joint Forces Launch Targeted Operation in South Kashmir

Security forces carried out a successful anti-terror operation in the Shoekal Keller region of Shopian district, Jammu and Kashmir, killing three militants associated with the Pakistan-backed group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The encounter followed intelligence inputs pointing to the presence of terrorists in the area, leading to a cordon and search mission that turned into a fierce gunbattle.

Lashkar’s TRF Chief Among Those Eliminated

One of the dead was Shahid Kuttay, a top commander in the LeT ranks and the head of its front group, The Resistance Front (TRF). A resident of Chotipora Heerpora in Shopian, Kuttay had been classified as a Category-A terrorist and was active since March 2023. He was linked to several attacks, including the killing of a BJP sarpanch in May 2024.

Also killed was Adnan Shafi from Wanduna Melhora, a Category-C terrorist who joined LeT in October 2024. He had reportedly been involved in the murder of a migrant labourer in Wachi last October. The identity of the third slain militant is yet to be confirmed.

Forces Maintain High Alert in South Kashmir

The operation, named Keller after the local area, saw intense exchange of gunfire when the holed-up terrorists opened fire on the search team. The forces returned fire, leading to a prolonged clash that ended with all three militants neutralized. Troops remain deployed in the region to prevent any retaliation or civilian risk, as the area continues to be one of the more sensitive hotspots in the Valley.