One Militant Killed in Ongoing Shopian Encounter Amid Operation Sindoor

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, May 13, 2025, New Delhi :  Security forces killed one militant during an encounter in the Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, as part of the ongoing counter-terrorism initiative, Operation Sindoor. According to initial police reports, the slain militant was affiliated with the proscribed group Lashkar-e-Taiba. The operation, launched based on intelligence inputs about militant movement in the forested region of Kellar in Jinpath, has escalated into an active gunfight with two more militants still engaged in the encounter.

The latest developments follow a surge in security operations across Jammu and Kashmir after the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22. Since then, law enforcement agencies and the Indian Army have intensified their efforts, conducting widespread search operations and detaining over a hundred individuals on terrorism-related charges. Several militants have also been neutralized during these efforts.

On Tuesday morning, a cordon-and-search operation was initiated by the armed forces in the targeted Shopian region. Confronted with the tightening perimeter, the militants reportedly opened fire, prompting a swift and strategic response from the security personnel. A fierce exchange ensued, resulting in the death of one militant, while two others are still reportedly holed up in the area.

Operation Sindoor, launched on May 6–7, marks a significant military effort against terror infrastructure located across the border in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). As per official sources, nine militant camps were destroyed during the operation, and over a hundred militants were neutralized. The Indian Army has reiterated its commitment to eradicating all terrorist bases operating in the region.

Security forces remain on high alert, and combing operations in Shopian are ongoing. Authorities have maintained tight security and urged residents to remain vigilant while cooperating with ongoing investigations and counter-terror actions.