In a bold follow-up to Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army launched Operation Keller in the early hours of May 13 in the Keller region of Shopian, South Kashmir. The mission, aimed at dismantling entrenched terror networks, resulted in the elimination of three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants in a high-intensity gunfight.
A Precise Counter-Terror Mission in Shopian’s Forests
The operation was initiated after the Rashtriya Rifles—India’s elite counter-insurgency unit—received actionable intelligence on the presence of heavily armed LeT operatives in the Shoekal Keller forested belt. In response, a joint team of Army personnel and Jammu & Kashmir Police swiftly launched a cordon-and-search operation, targeting the suspected hideouts.
As forces moved in, the militants opened fire, leading to a fierce encounter. All three terrorists, believed to be involved in multiple acts of violence and radicalisation, were neutralised. Security forces maintained their positions and continued sanitising the area after the encounter, checking for arms caches and possible additional threats.
Operation Keller: Context and Significance
The launch of Operation Keller comes on the heels of Operation Sindoor, a significant military campaign involving precision strikes by India’s armed forces on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). That operation was a retaliatory move after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which killed 26 people.
In the wake of Operation Sindoor, tensions between India and Pakistan escalated, with a surge in cross-border shelling and increased militant activity across South Kashmir.
The Shopian district, and especially the Keller zone, has long been a hotbed of insurgency, with dense terrain offering cover for militants. The area has seen frequent encounters, with local and foreign terrorists using it as a launchpad for attacks and radicalisation efforts.
Continued Vigilance Amid Fragile Calm
Though the immediate threat has been neutralised in Operation Keller, authorities have stressed that this is not the end. Army units are continuing follow-up operations to track any remaining militants and recover hidden weapon stockpiles.
The identities of the slain terrorists are still being verified, with preliminary assessments indicating they were active LeT operatives involved in recent violent incidents in the Valley.
Residents have been urged to remain alert, as security forces maintain a heightened presence in the region to prevent any further attempts by Pakistan-backed terror groups to destabilise peace.
