The search operation to find two local terrorists linked to the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) entered its fourth day in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district on Tuesday, officials said.
Security forces restarted the operation at first light after pausing the searches overnight. The two terrorists were first spotted by surveillance cameras on 3 July in a thick orchard in the Meemandar area, which includes seven villages.
A joint team of the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has kept a strong security cordon around the area. By Monday evening, security personnel had cleared four of the seven villages.
Officials said the trapped terrorists, identified as Latif and Zakir, opened fire as Army personnel moved closer to them, leading to a brief exchange of gunfire.
The Army’s specialist counter-insurgency unit, Victor Force, has deployed extra troops to block all possible escape routes through the dense orchards. The area has also been lit up at night to prevent the terrorists from slipping away.
During the summer, the thick tree cover makes it difficult for security forces to monitor the area. Officials said the heavy foliage gives terrorists a chance to hide and use blind spots to escape security cordons.
According to security records, both Latif and Zakir are from Kulgam district in south Kashmir. Zakir is believed to have joined the banned LeT in 2024, while Latif became part of the outfit last year.
Shopian has long been considered an important route linking south Kashmir with central Kashmir and the Pir Panjal region.
Officials said that although foreign terrorists are increasingly being used to carry out attacks, stopping local militants such as Latif and Zakir is essential. They believe it will help weaken terrorist support networks and reduce local recruitment.