Pahalgam Attack Mastermind Killed
In a major counter-terrorism success, Shahid Kuttay, the chief of The Resistance Front (TRF) and mastermind behind the recent Pahalgam terror attack was killed along with two other militants in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district, according to a report by The Economic Times.
Pahalgam Attack Mastermind Killed
The Indian Army confirmed in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) that on May 13, 2025, specific intelligence inputs were received from a Rashtriya Rifles unit regarding the presence of terrorists in the Shoekal Keller area of Shopian. Acting on this information, a joint search-and-destroy operation named Operation Keller was launched.

Pahalgam Attack Mastermind Killed
As security forces comprising the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF closed in, the terrorists opened heavy fire, triggering a fierce gunfight. All three terrorists, including Kuttay, were neutralized during the intense exchange.
Pahalgam Attack Mastermind Killed
Shahid Kuttay had been a key figure in orchestrating the Pahalgam terror attack that resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians. He had been under surveillance by Indian security agencies for months. His death marks a significant blow to TRF, which is known to operate as a proxy group for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

Following the encounter, the area has been cordoned off and extensive search operations are underway to ensure there are no remaining militants in the vicinity. Security has also been heightened across the region to prevent potential retaliatory strikes.
Pahalgam Attack Mastermind Killed

This operation comes shortly after India’s high-impact Operation Sindoor, which involved precision airstrikes on terror infrastructure inside Pakistan. That mission reportedly eliminated around 100 terrorists, including key operatives at Jaish-e-Mohammad’s headquarters in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba’s training facility in Muridke.