Hizbul-Men-Neutralized-in-Tral-After-Lashkar-Loss-in-ShopianThree Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists killed in Tral encounter in Jammu and Kashmir

 

Three terrorists were killed in an exchange of fire with security personnel on Thursday morning. The incident happened in the Nader Tral locality of Pulwama district, Jammu and Kashmir. The operation was initiated based on intelligence reports about the presence of terrorists in the area.

As per official reports, the encounter started when the terrorists fired at the combined team of the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF. This occurred during a cordon and search operation in Awantipora. Security forces fired back, and there was an intense gun battle.

 

Hizbul Mujahideen Link Suspected

 

Sources identified that the killed terrorists belonged to the Hizbul Mujahideen group. But their identities are yet to be confirmed officially by the police.
“Encounter has begun at Nader, Tral area of Awantipora. Police and security forces are on the job. More details will follow,” Kashmir Zone Police Tweeted on X (formerly known as Twitter).

The Chinar Corps of the Indian Army also confirmed the operation, saying troops had observed suspicious movements and challenged the suspects, who opened heavy gunfire, leading to an intense gunfight.

 

Comes Days After Operation Keller in Shopian

 

This is the second such operation within two days in Shopian district. On Tuesday, three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists were eliminated in the Shoekal Keller forest area as part of the ‘Operation Keller.’

The dead included Shahid Kuttay and Adnan Shafi Dar, both senior LeT operatives of Shopian. Security personnel had recovered a huge stash of weapons, including rifles, grenades, and bullets, from the hideout.

 

Operation Keller: A Targeted Strike

 

Operation Keller was conducted on May 13 based on information received from a Rashtriya Rifles (RR) unit regarding terrorist activity in the vicinity. The operation was successful and clean-cut, killing three ‘hardcore’ LeT militants.

Top commander Shahid Kuttay, who was an ‘A’ category terrorist and joined LeT in 2023, was killed among them. Officials told the media that his residence was blown up on April 26, weeks after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 innocent lives.

 

Heightened Security Measures in Kashmir

 

Thursday’s meeting in Tral is the second big achievement for the Indian forces this week and the latest among a string of counter-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir. It follows the continuation of ‘Operation Sindoor,’ launched on May 7 with an airstrike against nine terror launchpads across Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.

Security personnel are on high alert amidst a tenuous peace in the area, with consecutive operations putting the squeeze on the Pakistan-sponsored terror outfits in the Valley.