SRINAGAR: Three local militants affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were killed in an encounter with security forces in the Shukro Keller area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
An official said that a joint team of Police, Army, and CRPF launched a search operation in the forested Shukro area after receiving intelligence about the presence of militants. As forces intensified the search, the militants opened fire, which was retaliated, leading to the gunfight, he said.
“During the encounter, three terrorists were killed and arms and ammunition were recovered from the site,” the official said, adding, “The slain terrorists have been identified as Shahid Ahmad Kuttay of Chotipora Keller, Shopian; Adnan Shafi Dar of Zainapora, Shopian; and Ehsan-ul-Haq Sheikh of Murran, Pulwama.”
It is noteworthy that the houses of all three were demolished last month following the killing of 26 tourists in Pahalgam.
Officials said, ” Shahid Kuttay, son of Mohammad Yousuf Kuttay from Chotipora Heerpora, had reportedly joined LeT on March 8, 2023, and was classified as a Category-A terrorist. He was a key figure in several terror incidents in south Kashmir, including the firing at Danish Resort on April 8, 2024, which injured two German tourists and their driver. He was also accused of the targeted killing of a BJP Sarpanch in Heerpora on May 18, 2024, and is suspected to have been involved in the killing of a Territorial Army personnel in Behibagh, Kulgam, on February 3, 2025.”
“The second terrorist, Adnan Shafi Dar, son of Mohammad Shafi Dar from Wanduna Melhora, Shopian, had joined LeT on October 18, 2024, and was classified as a Category-C terrorist. He was involved in the killing of a non-local labourer at Wachi, Shopian, on the same day he joined the group, the official said. The third terrorist, Ehsan-ul-Haq Sheikh from Murran, Pulwama, who reportedly joined in September 2023, was involved in multiple terror-related cases, according to police sources,” they said. (KNO)
