In a significant counter-terror breakthrough, security forces in Jammu and Kashmir have killed six terrorists — including three affiliated with the proscribed outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad — during two major anti-terror operations over the past 48 hours. The operations, conducted jointly by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Indian Army, and the CRPF, were hailed as a decisive step towards dismantling the terror network operating in the Valley.
Addressing a joint press conference, Kashmir Zone Inspector General of Police (IGP) V K Birdi confirmed that one of the slain terrorists was Shahid Kuttee, a key figure linked to multiple attacks including one on a German tourist. “He was also involved in terror funding activities,” Birdi added, underlining the broader financial support systems sustaining militancy in the region. He reiterated the commitment of the security forces to eliminating the entire “terror ecosystem.”
The operations are being seen as a direct outcome of renewed coordination and strategic recalibration among security forces, following a review in the wake of recent escalations in terror activity.
Details of the Operations
Major General Dhananjay Joshi, who also addressed the media, gave a detailed account of the two back-to-back operations. The first was carried out on May 12 in the higher reaches of Kelar, based on intelligence inputs about a group of terrorists hiding in the area. Movement was detected the next morning, and a gunbattle ensued after the terrorists opened fire. Three terrorists were neutralised in this exchange.
The second encounter took place in a border village in the Tral area after security forces received a specific tip-off. When the area was being cordoned off, the terrorists took positions inside civilian homes and began firing. “The priority was to ensure the safety of the civilians first,” said Maj. Gen. Joshi. After evacuating the residents, forces conducted a systematic search and eliminated all three terrorists hiding in the area.
Aftermath of Pahalgam Attack
These successful operations come just weeks after the horrific Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians were killed, sparking national outrage. The incident led India to conduct strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), escalating tensions between the two countries. Although a temporary pause in cross-border military actions was later announced, security agencies within J&K have remained on high alert.
With these latest encounters, the focus has sharpened on rooting out active terrorist cells and their logistical networks, which continue to pose a threat to peace and security in the region.
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