An encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in the Tral area of south Kashmir's Pulwama district during the early hours on Thursday.
Security forces had cordoned off the Nader area of Tral after receiving specific information about the presence of terrorists. As they approached the suspected spot, the terrorists opened fire, which was retaliated, leading to a gunfight.
"Encounter has started at Nader, Tral area of #Awantipora. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow," the Jammu and Kashmir Police said in a post on X. This is the second encounter in the region this week. On May 13, three Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists were killed in an encounter at Keller, Shopian in south Kashmir.
One of the slain militants was identified as Shahid Kuttay, son of Mohammad Yousuf Kuttay, from Chotipora Heerpora in Shopian. According to officials, Shahid joined the LeT on March 8, 2023 and was listed as an ‘A’ category terrorist.
Shahid was allegedly involved in several attacks, including the firing at Danish Resort on April 8, 2025 that injured two German tourists and a local driver, the killing of a BJP Sarpanch in Heerpora on 18 May 2024, and is suspected in the murder of a Territorial Army personnel in Kulgam on 3 February 2025.
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The second militant was identified as Adnan Shafi Dar, son of Mohammad Shafi Dar, from Wanduna Melhora in Shopian. He reportedly joined LeT on October 18, 2024 and was allegedly involved in the killing of a non-local labourer at Wachi in Shopian on the same day.
Security forces have intensified operations against terrorists after the Pahalgam attack on April 22, in which 26 people, including 25 tourists and one local horse ride operator, were killed. India retaliated by targeting multiple sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7 under 'Operation Sindoor'. The operation escalated tensions between India and Pakistan and after four days of hostilities, both countries agreed to stop firing.
