KKN Gurugram Desk | On 13 May 2025, a joint team of the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, CRPF, and intelligence agencies successfully launched Operation Keller, a targeted anti-terrorist mission in the Shoikal Keller area of Shopian district.

The operation culminated in the elimination of three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants, including Category-A commander Shahid Kutte. Another was identified as Adnan Shafi, a local recruit, while the identity of the third is under verification.

The strike marks a significant success in India‘s ongoing campaign against Pakistan-backed terrorism in Kashmir and runs parallel to the recently launched Operation Sindoor.

Background: Rise in Terrorist Activity and Intelligence Inputs

The operation was initiated following specific intelligence inputs from the Indian Army’s Rashtriya Rifles Unit, which suggested the presence of high-value terrorist targets in the densely forested areas of Keller in Shopian.

In response, Indian forces launched a search and destroy mission, a standard tactical measure employed to flush out militants hiding in civilian areas or rural belts.

Operation Keller is part of a broader strategy to neutralize active terrorist cells in South Kashmir, which has been a hotspot for LeT recruitment and activity in recent years.

Details of the Encounter: Intense Gunfire and Tactical Precision

According to the official Army statement:

“The joint operation commenced in the early hours of 13 May, triggered by credible input. As the search teams advanced, terrorists opened heavy fire. In retaliatory action, three heavily armed militants were neutralized.”

The encounter lasted several hours and took place in difficult terrain, complicating the movement of security personnel. However, no casualties were reported on the Indian side, thanks to precise coordination among the Army, police, CRPF, and technical surveillance units.

Terrorists Killed in Operation Keller: Who Were They?

1. Shahid Kutte (Top LeT Commander – Category A)

• Affiliation: Lashkar-e-Taiba

• Joined: 2023

• Involved in: April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians

• Designation: Category-A terrorist

• Status: Neutralized

Kutte’s name was on the top of the wanted list in South Kashmir. He was reportedly coordinating cross-border logistics, local recruitment, and IED manufacturing. The government had earlier demolished his ancestral house on 26 April 2025 after the Pahalgam attack.

2. Adnan Shafi (Category C)

• Resident of: Wanduna Melhora, Shopian

• Affiliation: Local LeT recruit

• Joined: October 2024

• Status: Killed in encounter

Shafi had a brief tenure with LeT but was being groomed for suicide operations, as per preliminary intelligence reports.

3. Unidentified Terrorist

• Status: Dead

• Identity: Under confirmation by NIA and forensic labs

• Possibly a Pakistani national, given the recovered communication devices

Arms and Ammunition Recovered

After the operation, security forces recovered:

• Three AK-series rifles

• Five hand grenades

• Over 200 rounds of live ammunition

• Encrypted communication devices

• Backpacks, food supplies, and extremist literature

The recovered devices are under analysis by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which suspects links to cross-border handlers in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Coordination with Operation Sindoor: A Broader Counter-Terror Strategy

Operation Sindoor, launched on 7 May 2025, focuses on neutralizing Pakistan-sponsored terror modules across multiple districts in South Kashmir, including Pulwama, Anantnag, and Kulgam.

Operation Keller, though initiated as an independent mission, complements Sindoor’s objectives, focusing on the Shopian sector, where recent intelligence flagged a surge in sleeper cells and ammunition dumps.

Both operations are being monitored directly from the Northern Command headquarters and are part of India’s renewed offensive against cross-border terrorism.

Reactions from Officials and Security Analysts

Lt Gen A.K. Bhatt (Retd.), Defence Analyst:

“Killing Shahid Kutte is a strategic win. He was not just a foot soldier — he was an ideologue and recruiter. His elimination will create a vacuum in the LeT hierarchy in South Kashmir.”

SSP Shopian, Rajesh Kumar:

“The operation was executed with precision and zero collateral damage. Locals have been cooperating, and search efforts will continue until the area is fully sanitized.”

Impact on Local Security and Civilian Sentiment

Security forces have launched continued cordon-and-search operations in adjoining villages like Harman, Zainapora, and Keller, looking for:

• Sleeper cell operatives

• Weapon caches

• Safe houses used for transit and logistics

The operation has also triggered curfews and internet suspension in parts of Shopian as a precautionary measure. Local civilians, while disturbed by the presence of militants, have shown support for the Army, with many voluntarily aiding in information flow.

Terror Funding and Pakistan’s Involvement

Parallel to military operations, Indian agencies are also probing the financial trail of these terror outfits.

Recent intelligence inputs suggest that Pakistani agencies may be funneling money through hawala channels and relief organizations, directly supporting militant activities in Kashmir.

According to reports, Rs 14 crore from Pakistan’s so-called “relief package” was being funneled to support terror commanders, including those like Shahid Kutte and Maulana Masood Azhar.

International Response and Implications

The Ministry of External Affairs is expected to brief international observers, including:

• UN Security Council members

• OIC watchdogs

• Human Rights monitors

India has emphasized that every encounter like this exposes the reality of Pakistan-backed terrorism, which remains the biggest hurdle to peace in the region.

Public Sentiment: Growing Confidence in Security Forces

Post the operation, Shopian residents expressed:

• Relief at the elimination of local threats

• Confidence in military’s role

• Appeals for increased security presence in schools and marketplaces

Civic bodies have also requested additional deployment of women constables and mental health support teams to assist local youth impacted by ongoing violence.

Next Steps in Operation Keller

Officials confirm that Operation Keller remains active, with:

• Night patrols

• Drone surveillance

• Sniffer dog squads deployed

• Underground tunnel checks underway

The Army believes a larger network may be embedded in the region, and further raids and arrests can be expected over the coming days.

The successful neutralization of three Lashkar terrorists, including top commander Shahid Kutte, under Operation Keller marks a significant victory for Indian forces in Jammu & Kashmir. It reflects a strategic shift toward proactive, intelligence-driven anti-terror actions.

As Operation Keller progresses, the government hopes to dismantle deeper terror ecosystems, restore long-term peace in the valley, and reaffirm India’s zero-tolerance policy against terrorism.