What Is Operation Keller? The Counter-Terror Mission In Kashmir After Operation Sindoor

The Indian Army's Operation Keller in Shopian, Kashmir, has neutralised three Lashkar-e-Taiba militants in a fierce gunfight. This comes amid Operation Sindoor by the three armed forces.

The Indian Army has intensified its efforts to track and eliminate terror threats in Jammu and Kashmir (Representative image).

Source : એબીપી અસ્મિતા

In the early hours of May 13, the Indian Army launched another counter-terror operation in the dense forests of Keller in Shopian, South Kashmir. Dubbed 'Operation Keller', this mission was a swift and decisive response to credible intelligence about the presence of heavily armed militants entrenched in the region — a stark reminder of the persistent security challenges facing the Valley.

Race Against Time In Shopian's Forests

The operation began after the Rashtriya Rifles, a specialised counter-insurgency unit, received specific inputs regarding the movement and location of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives in the Shoekal Keller area. Security forces, including the Army and local police, quickly cordoned off the suspected zone, initiating a search-and-destroy mission.

As the team advanced, the militants realised they had been surrounded. They opened fire, triggering a fierce gunfight. The encounter ended with the elimination of three high-priority LeT terrorists, all believed to have been involved in multiple acts of violence and radicalisation in the region.

Rising Tensions And Fragile Peace

Operation Keller unfolded against a backdrop of heightened security concerns. Just a few days ago, India had conducted Operation Sindoor — an airstrike targeting terror camps across the border in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) — in retaliation for the killing of 26 people in Pahalgam on April 22. That operation was followed by retaliatory shelling from Pakistan, escalating tensions and putting the entire region on edge.

The Shopian district, and particularly the Keller region, has long been a hotspot for militant activity. Frequent encounters and ongoing insurgency have kept security forces on high alert.

While the immediate threat was neutralised, the operation did not end with the gunfight. Security personnel continued to sanitise the area, searching for hidden weapon caches and ensuring no additional militants remained at large. The identity of the slain terrorists is being ascertained, and authorities have urged residents of the region to remain vigilant as follow-up operations continue.