Terrorist Killed In Encounter In J&K Pulwama; Second Gunfight in J&K in 48 Hours
Three terrorist were killed in an encounter with security forces early Thursday in Pulwama’s Tral region, marking the second major anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir within two days.
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Nadir village of Tral in Pulwama district, where contact was established with hiding militants. Three terrorist were killed in the ensuing firefight, while two to three others—believed to be affiliated with Jaish-e-Mohammed—are still reportedly trapped. The operation remains active at the time of filing this report.
Tuesday’s encounter in the Keller area of Shopian district resulted in the killing of three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists. The slain militants were identified as Shahid Kuttay and Adnan Shafi, both locals from Shopian.
According to sources, Kuttay was involved in a gun attack on April 8, 2024, at the Danish resort that left two German tourists and one driver injured. He also played a role in the killing of a BJP Sarpanch in Heerpora last May. Shafi, who joined Lashkar in early 2024, was allegedly involved in the killing of a non-local labourer at Wachi.
Security forces recovered three AK-47 rifles and a cache of arms and ammunition from the site of the Shopian encounter.
The latest encounters underscore a renewed wave of militant activity in South Kashmir and a heightened response from security agencies. Intelligence inputs indicate an uptick in infiltration and local recruitment in Pulwama and Shopian regions.
Security forces continue search and containment operations in Tral. Officials say the hunt for the remaining terrorists is being conducted with extreme caution to avoid civilian casualties.
