Three Lashkar-e-Taiba Militants Neutralized in Shopian Encounter

In a significant development, three militants affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba were killed during an encounter in Shopian, South Kashmir, on Tuesday. The identities of two out of the three militants have been confirmed, according to sources speaking to ANI.

The encounter occurred at the Shukroo forest area of Keller in Shopian, following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of militants. Authorities have identified one of the deceased as Shahid Kuttay, a Category A operative involved in multiple incidents, including an attack at the Danish Resort in Srinagar. The second identified militant, Adnan Shafi Dar, was reportedly involved in the killing of non-local laborers. Efforts are underway to confirm the identity of the third militant.

This operation comes as security forces intensify efforts in the region, including a massive cordon-and-search operation based on intelligence reports. Concurrently, posters offering a Rs 20 lakh reward for information on perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack have appeared in Pulwama, signaling ongoing efforts to dismantle terror networks. In related news, Jammu and Kashmir Police announced a bounty on three LeT terrorists linked to the Pahalgam attack, as part of a broader crackdown on militancy.

(With inputs from agencies.)