Srinagar, May 13 – In a significant blow to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) network, top commander Shahid Kuttay was among three terrorists neutralised by security forces during an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district on Tuesday.
Operation Launched on Specific Intelligence Input
Acting on specific intelligence about the presence of terrorists in the Shukroo Keller area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district, security forces initiated a cordon and search operation. The situation escalated when the hiding militants opened fire, triggering a fierce gunfight.“In the exchange of fire, three terrorists were killed,” officials confirmed.
LeT Operatives Neutralised
A senior police official identified two of the slain terrorists as LeT operatives: Shahid Kuttay and Adnan Shafi. The identity of the third militant is currently being verified.Shahid Kuttay, a category "A" terrorist and top commander of LeT, hailed from Chotipora Heerpora in Shopian. He had joined the terror outfit in March 2023 and was involved in multiple attacks. Notably, Kuttay played a key role in the assassination of a BJP sarpanch in Heerpora on May 18, 2024.
Authorities had previously razed his residential house on April 26, following the Pahalgam terror attack, as part of the crackdown on terrorism infrastructure.
Details on Second Militant Adnan Shafi
Adnan Shafi, classified as a category "C" terrorist, was a resident of Wanduna Melhora, Shopian. He joined LeT in October 2024 and was involved in the killing of a non-local labourer in Wachi, Shopian on October 18, 2024.Continued Crackdown on Terrorism
Officials reiterated that both Kuttay and Shafi were involved in a series of anti-national activities and had been on the radar of security agencies for their involvement in multiple terror-related incidents.The successful operation marks a critical step in the ongoing efforts to dismantle terror networks operating in the Kashmir Valley.
