Three Lashkar Terrorists Gunned Down In Jammu And Kashmir Encounter Amid Hunt For Pahalgam Attackers
An encounter broke out between militants and security forces in Shakroo Kellar area of Shopian district of south Kashmir on Tuesday morning
Published : May 13, 2025 at 11:38 AM IST
|Updated : May 13, 2025 at 4:22 PM IST
Srinagar: Three terrorists affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed in an encounter between the terrorists and security forces on Tuesday in the Shukroo area of Kellar in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district, sources said. The encounter comes amid a widening crackdown on terrorists believed to be responsible for last month’s deadly terror attack in Pahalgam.
Police officials said a joint team comprising the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Indian Army, and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a cordon and search operation early Tuesday morning after receiving intelligence about terrorists presence in the forested Kellar region.
“As the joint team approached the suspected hideout, the terrorists opened fire, prompting a retaliatory response,” a senior police official said, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the operation. “The exchange of fire is ongoing, and additional reinforcements have been rushed to the site.”
OPERATION KELLER
— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 13, 2025
On 13 May 2025, based on specific intelligence of a #RashtriyasRifles Unit, about presence of terrorists in general area Shoekal Keller, #Shopian, #IndianArmy launched a search and destroy Operation. During the operation, terrorists opened heavy fire and fierce… pic.twitter.com/KZwIkEGiLF
While police is yet to release a statement over the encounter, Army confirmed the killing of three terrorists in the operation.
"OPERATION KELLER: On 13 May 2025, based on specific intelligence of a #RashtriyasRifles Unit, about presence of terrorists in general area Shoekal Keller, #Shopian, #IndianArmy launched a search and destroy Operation. During the operation, terrorists opened heavy fire and fierce firefight ensued, which resulted in elimination of three hardcore terrorists. Operation is in progress," an Army spokesperson said in a post on X.
The encounter erupted just hours after police pasted wanted posters of three terrorists allegedly involved in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 civilians killed after coming under fire from heavily armed terrorists.
The posters, displayed across several parts of South Kashmir, including Shopian, identified the terrorists as members of a banned terror outfit. Police have also announced a cash reward of Rs 20 lakh for credible information leading to their arrest or neutralisation.
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