Date Launched: 13 May 2025
Location: Keller Forest Region, Shopian, Jammu & Kashmir
📰 Overview
In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, Indian security forces also launched Operation Keller — a strategic, high-intensity counterterror mission in the Keller forest region of Shopian district, South Kashmir.
The operation was conducted after intelligence agencies pinpointed the location of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives hiding in the dense woods. It was aimed at swiftly neutralizing the perpetrators responsible for the recent wave of violence.
🎯 Objective
- Eliminate High-Value Targets (HVTs) behind the Pahalgam attack
- Disrupt terrorist logistics and hideouts in the forested region
- Reestablish security dominance in volatile parts of South Kashmir
- Deliver a strong retaliatory message post Operation Sindoor
⚔️ Execution
According to Army sources, the joint operation by Rashtriya Rifles, J&K Police, and CRPF began at dawn on May 13. A cordon-and-search strategy was employed to prevent escape routes through the dense terrain.
The encounter lasted several hours and led to the killing of Shahid Ahmad Kuttay, a top commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba, along with two other militants.
💬 Official Confirmation
An Army spokesperson confirmed:
“Acting on precise inputs, security forces launched an operation in Keller area. Three terrorists were neutralized. One of them was the key planner behind the recent Pahalgam bus attack.”
🧠 Key Facts
- Militant Killed: Shahid Kuttay, top LeT commander
- Group Involved: Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)
- Forces Involved: Indian Army, CRPF, and Jammu & Kashmir Police
🗺️ Strategic Importance
Keller is a remote forested area with terrain favorable for militants. Its proximity to Pahalgam and dense cover made it a hideout hub for LeT units. Eliminating terrorists here ensures:
- Breakdown of supply lines
- Disruption of future terror planning
- Restoration of local civilian confidence
📌 Significance Post-Operation Sindoor
- Operation Keller is being viewed as a follow-up blow in India’s proactive defense approach.
- It reinforces the zero-tolerance policy against cross-border terrorism.
- Marks a rapid mobilization of forces, within 48 hours of the Pahalgam incident.