Suhail Khan
Shopian, May 13: Three terrorists were gunned down in an anti-militancy operation in the southern region of Kashmir on Tuesday, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to respond to terror with counter-strikes, emphasizing no distinction between terrorists and the regimes that sponsor them.
The Prime Minister’s remarks followed India’s retaliatory strikes on terrorist sites in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan, which were carried out in response to the killing of 26 civilians in Pahalgam last month.
An official told Kashmir Despatch that the three terrorists were killed in a gunfight with police and security forces in Shopian district of south Kashmir.
An Army spokesman stated on X as per Kashmir Despatch: “On 13 May 2025, based on specific intelligence from a #RashtriyaRifles Unit regarding the presence of terrorists in the general area of Shoekal Keller, #Shopian, the #IndianArmy launched a search-and-destroy operation. During the operation, terrorists opened heavy fire, leading to a fierce firefight that resulted in the elimination of three hardcore terrorists.”
Officials identified the slain terrorists as Shahid Kuttay, son of Mohd Yousuf Kuttay, resident of Chotipora Heerpora, Shopian, and Adnan Shafi Dar, resident of Wanduna Melhora, Shopian.
Shahid had joined the terrorist ranks on March 8, 2023. He was a Category-A militant affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
Meanwhile, police in a statement issued to Kashmir Despatch confirmed that three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists were killed in Shopian, with two identified and the third yet to be recognized.
One of the identified terrorists is Shahid Kuttay, son of Mohd Yousuf Kuttay, a resident of Chotipora Heerpora, Shopian. He joined the LeT on March 8, 2023, under Category A. Shahid was involved in a firing incident at the Danish Resort on April 8, 2024, which injured two German tourists and a driver. He was also implicated in the killing of a BJP Sarpanch in Heerpora, Shopian, on May 18, 2024, and is suspected of involvement in the killing of a Territorial Army personnel in Behibagh, Kulgam, on February 3, 2025.
The second identified terrorist is Adnan Shafi Dar, son of Mohd Shafi Dar, a resident of Wanduna Melhora, Shopian. He joined the LeT on October 18, 2024, under Category C. Adnan was involved in the killing of a non-local laborer in Wachi, Shopian, on the same day.
Adnan Shafi Dar, son of Mohd Shafi Dar, resident of Wanduna Melhora, Shopian.
Date of Joining: October 18, 2024 (LeT, Category-C).
Involvement: Killing of a non-local laborer in Wachi, Shopian, on October 18, 2024.
Suhail Khan is a filmmaker, content writer, and freelance journalist.
