Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: An anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district entered its second day on Sunday, with security forces reinforcing the cordon around a dense orchard and deploying additional troops to block every possible escape route for two suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants believed to be trapped inside.
Operation Launched After Specific Intelligence Inputs
The operation began on Saturday in the Meemandar area following precise intelligence about the presence of militants in the region, and continued through the night as the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force maintained a multi-layered cordon around the site. Officials said the Army’s specialised counter-insurgency unit, Victor Force, brought in additional personnel and lit up the orchard to prevent the two cornered terrorists from escaping under cover of darkness or through the dense vegetation.
Suspects Identified as Local Residents Linked to LeT
The two suspects have been identified as Latif and Zakir, both local residents of Kulgam district, and are reported to have ties to the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba outfit. Officials said Zakir joined the group in 2024, while Latif became associated with it the following year. The pair was first detected through surveillance cameras in the orchard on Friday, and when security forces moved in on their position, the militants allegedly opened fire, leading to an exchange of gunfire. No casualties have been reported so far.
Dense Foliage Complicates Search, Escape Routes Being Sealed
Officials noted that the thick summer foliage in the orchard has made surveillance difficult, providing natural cover that militants frequently exploit to breach security cordons. As a result, extra forces have been deployed to seal off potential escape routes while the search operation continues. Shopian has long been considered a strategic transit corridor connecting south Kashmir with central Kashmir and the Pir Panjal region.
