Three Lashkar Terrorists Gunned Down in Fierce Encounter in Shopian’s Shukroo Forest

Srinagar: Three terrorists affiliated with Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were killed on Tuesday, May 13, in a fierce encounter with security forces in the dense Shukroo forest area of Shopian district in south Kashmir. The operation was launched following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of militants in the region.

According to a senior police official who spoke to ANI, the encounter was part of a large-scale cordon and search operation that began in the Kellar forest region. Acting on credible inputs, joint teams of the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a combing operation during the early hours of the day. As security personnel advanced deeper into the forest, the hiding terrorists opened fire, prompting retaliatory action and leading to a sustained gun battle.

Reports suggest that the gunfight initially began in the adjoining Kulgam district and later escalated into the Shopian sector, particularly around the Shoekal Keller area. This marks the first major encounter in Jammu and Kashmir in over 11 days, breaking a short spell of relative calm in the region.

Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the Indian Army confirmed the development. “On 13 May 2025, based on specific intelligence of a #RashtriyaRifles Unit, about presence of terrorists in general area Shoekal Keller, #Shopian, #IndianArmy launched a search and destroy operation. During the operation, terrorists opened heavy fire and fierce firefight ensued, which resulted in elimination of three hardcore terrorists,” the post read. The Army further added that the operation was still underway at the time of the update.