In a significant escalation of counter-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir, security forces have eliminated six terrorists across two separate encounters within 48 hours — one in Pulwama and the other in Shopian.
On Thursday, three Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists were killed in a gunfight in Nadir village of Tral in Pulwama district. The slain militants were identified as Asif Ahmed Sheikh, Amir Nazir Wani, and Yawar Ahmad Bhat, all locals from Pulwama. Their affiliation with JeM underscores the continued presence of the group in South Kashmir, which has seen increased anti-terror activity in recent months.
This operation came on the heels of another encounter on Tuesday in the Keller area of Shopian, where security forces neutralized three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists. Two of the three killed were identified:
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Shahid Kuttay: A LeT member since 2023, Kuttay was involved in the April 2023 shooting at the Danish resort, which left two German tourists and one driver injured. He was also linked to the May 2023 assassination of a BJP Sarpanch in Heerpora, Shopian.
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Adnan Shafi: Joined LeT in 2024 and was allegedly involved in the killing of a non-local labourer at Wachi, Shopian.
Security forces recovered three AK-47 rifles and other arms and ammunition during the Shopian operation, indicating the group’s preparedness for further strikes.
These back-to-back encounters reflect a heightened offensive by Indian security forces in the Valley, particularly in South Kashmir, which remains a hotbed of terrorist activity. The operations also highlight the ongoing infiltration of local youth into terror outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, and the evolving strategies by both militant groups and security agencies.
