A day after security forces eliminated three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists in a fierce encounter, they recovered a large cache of weapons and ammunition in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district on Wednesday.

They found AK-series rifles, grenades, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in the dense forests of Shoekal Keller. The terrorists had used this area as their hideout before the encounter.

The Indian Army, CRPF, and J&K Police carried out the recovery during a joint counterterrorism operation named Operation Keller.

Acting on intelligence inputs received by the Rashtriya Rifles, the forces launched a swift cordon and search operation in the upper reaches of Shopian. This area lies about 80 kilometers from Srinagar.

On Tuesday, three militants affiliated with the Pakistan-backed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba were killed in a brief but intense firefight.

Two of the slain militants, Shahid Kuttay and Adnan Shafi Dar, were local youths from Shopian. Authorities demolished their homes using explosives. Both had taken part in recent terror activities in the region.

The Indian Army released an official statement after the operation.

"Based on inputs by intelligence agencies about presence of terrorists in the Keller Forest of Shopian District, J&K, a joint operation was launched by Indian Army, J&K Police and CRPF on 13 May 2025, resulting in neutralisation of three hardcore terrorists including the local commander of LeT/TRF after an intense encounter," the Army stated.

"The three were actively involved in recent terror activities in the region. Recoveries from the operation include AK series rifles, a large quantity of ammunition, grenades and other war-like stores. The success of this operation is the result of an excellent synergy between all Security Forces and Intelligence Agencies. Indian Army remains unwavering in its mission to eliminate terror. Every attempt to disrupt peace will be met with decisive and unrelenting force," the statement added.

Operation Keller came as part of a broader crackdown on terrorism by Indian forces.

On April 22, a Pakistan-sponsored terror attack in Pahalgam claimed 26 lives, most of whom were tourists. It was one of the deadliest attacks in the Valley in recent times.

India responded with Operation Sindoor on May 7. The operation involved precision airstrikes targeting nine terrorist launchpads across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

These airstrikes destroyed nine terror infrastructures, including Jaish-e-Mohammed’s headquarters in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba’s key base in Muridke, both located in mainland Pakistan.

Officials have not confirmed whether the militants killed in Shopian were directly linked to the Pahalgam massacre. Investigations are still ongoing. Security forces remain on high alert across the region.

Despite the ceasefire announced last week between India and Pakistan, Indian forces continue to carry out full-scale counterinsurgency operations within Kashmir.