Srinagar: Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir eliminated two terrorists in an encounter in the Khanyar area of Srinagar on Wednesday, just days after the neutralization of three perpetrators behind the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, according to officials cited by ANI. The operation, conducted jointly by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Army’s 2 Rashtriya Rifles, and the Central Reserve Police Force’s 115 Battalion, began in the early hours following intelligence about terrorist presence in the old city.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police reported that the two terrorists, killed during a cordon-and-search operation, were linked to the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit. Their identities are yet to be confirmed as authorities work to establish further details. The police also recovered incriminating materials, arms, and ammunition from the site. The operation caused no collateral damage, and a case has been registered, with investigations ongoing, the police stated.
This encounter follows closely on the heels of Operation Mahadev, which targeted the masterminds of the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 civilian lives. On July 28, security forces killed three LeT terrorists, including Suleiman Shah, a former Pakistan Army commando and key orchestrator of the Baisaran Valley massacre. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) confirmed their involvement through forensic evidence, including bullet shell matches. Two local residents who provided shelter to the Pahalgam attackers were also arrested.
The Khanyar operation underscores the intensified security crackdown in the region following the Pahalgam tragedy. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, addressing the Lok Sabha during the Operation Sindoor debate, emphasized the government’s zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism, highlighting the elimination of the Pahalgam attackers as a significant achievement.