A-category LeT terrorist accused of killing BJP sarpanch among 3 dead in Shopian encounter, police say

The encounter began Tuesday morning after intel on presence of terrorists was received by security forces, following which the area was cordoned off and a search operation conducted.

LeT terrorists Adnan Shafi Dar (left) & Shahid Kuttay (right), who were killed in an encounter in Shopian Tuesday | By special arrangement

New Delhi: Three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists were killed in an encounter in Heerpora district of Shopian in Kashmir Tuesday morning, sources in the security establishment told ThePrint.

The encounter began at 8 am after a specific intelligence input on the movement of terrorists was received from the area by security forces, following which the area was cordoned off and a search operation conducted.

The Additional Directorate General of Public Information of the Indian Army posted about “OPERATION KELLER” on X, and wrote: “On 13 May 2025, based on specific intelligence of a #RashtriyasRiflesUnit, 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 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… pic.twitter.com/KZwIkEGiLF

— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 13, 2025

Two of the three have been identified as Shahid Kuttay and Adnan Shafi Dar—both residents of Shopian.

The three men worked for The Resistance Front (TRF), an arm of the LeT, and had been involved in multiple terror incidents in the valley, a source told ThePrint. According to initial investigation, the men were not found to be connected to the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack in which at least 26 people were killed.

Kuttay had joined the LeT in March 2023 and is listed as an A category terrorist, a source said. This is a category of top operatives involved in planning and execution of multiple attacks, along with overseeing recruitment.

Kuttay, sources revealed, was involved in the firing incident at Danish Resort on 8 April, 2024 in which two German tourists and one driver were injured. He was also involved in the killing of a Bharatiya Janata Party sarpanch at Heerpora in Shopian on 18 May last year. “He is also suspected to be involved in the killing of Territorial Army personnel at Behibagh, Kulgam on 3 February, 2025,” the source further said.

Adnan, who was currently pursuing his bachelors from GDS Khanabal, is said to have joined the LeT in October 2024 and was a C-category terrorist. According to sources, he was involved in the killing of a non-local labourer at Wachi in Shopian, while he was plucking corn cobs in an orchard, and succumbed to his injuries, on 18 October, 2024.

“Shafi obtained initial education from GMS Naina Batpora up to class 8, from Higher Secondary School Liter Pulwama up to class 12, and was presently pursuing a BA degree. On 18 October last year, he went missing from his home, and had not returned since. Following this, he was involved in several cases,” the source quoted above said.

Adnan, the source said, was detained by Special Operations Group Zainapora in April 2024 for a period of five days for questioning, and later released.

The third terrorist is suspected to be Amir Bashir Dar, also a resident of Shopian, but his credentials are still being verified, a police officer said, adding that two AK-47s, 10 magazines, three hand grenades, two wireless sets, three mobile phones and other ammunition were recovered from the men.

 “The bodies have been recovered. The arms and ammunition also have been recovered from the spot,” the officer said. “The police are on high alert keeping a watch on the movement of all terrorists and overground workers of these outfits.”

This encounter comes days after India and Pakistan agreed to immediate ceasefire after a sharp escalation of cross-border tensions last week. Meanwhile, the hunt for the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack is still underway.

On Tuesday, posters featuring the images of the wanted terrorists were put up across multiple locations in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Any credible information leading to their whereabouts will be rewarded with Rs 20 lakh, the posters say.

(Edited by Mannat Chugh)