In a swift and precise counter-terror operation, the Indian Army on Tuesday eliminated three terrorists during Operation Keller in the Shoekal Keller area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district. The operation, launched in the early hours by the Rashtriya Rifles, followed credible intelligence inputs about the presence of armed militants entrenched in the region.
As security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search-and-destroy mission, the terrorists opened fire, triggering an intense exchange. The firefight resulted in the death of all three terrorists, who were described by security officials as high-priority threats involved in multiple acts of violence and radicalization. The operation was ongoing at the time of reporting, with the area being sanitized to rule out the presence of any additional threats or hidden weapon caches.
This tactical success comes at a time of heightened security concerns following Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory airstrike conducted by India on May 7, targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). That operation, hailed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah as a “befitting reply” to cross-border terrorism, was followed by retaliatory shelling from Pakistan, resulting in 12 civilian and one soldier’s death in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district.
The Keller region of Shopian has remained a persistent militant hotspot, with a history of insurgency and frequent encounters. A similar gunfight in the Yarwan forest in 2019 also resulted in the killing of three militants, illustrating the long-standing challenge that security forces continue to face in South Kashmir despite ongoing counterinsurgency operations.
Officials emphasized the importance of sustained operations to prevent militant regrouping and to maintain peace in the Valley. “The elimination of these terrorists is a step toward dismantling the network that threatens regional stability,” said a senior army officer involved in the operation.
Public response has been largely supportive, with citizens and local leaders expressing relief over the Army’s decisive action. However, many remain wary of further escalations, especially given the broader India-Pakistan tensions and the historically fragile situation in Kashmir. The long-standing territorial dispute, marked by wars in 1947-48, 1965, and the 1999 Kargil conflict, continues to fuel the complex security landscape in the region.
Authorities have urged residents to remain alert as follow-up operations continue in Keller and surrounding areas. More details are expected as investigations proceed and identities of the neutralized militants are confirmed.
With Operation Keller, the Indian Army reaffirms its resolve to eliminate terrorism from the Valley, even as geopolitical tensions threaten to further destabilize the region.
