The night operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district entered its second day on Sunday, as security forces resumed their search for two local terrorists of the banned outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, who were trapped in a dense orchard, officials said.
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Search operations were resumed to track down the two terrorists who were spotted by surveillance cameras on Friday in an orchard in the Maimandar area, which includes seven villages.
A joint team of several columns of Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and Central Reserve Police Force imposed a tight cordon around the area and cleared four villages by evening.
The trapped terrorists were identified as Latif and Zakir. The officials said they opened fire on the army personnel who were approaching them, prompting them to retaliate, sparking a gun battle.
Officials said the army’s specialized counter-insurgency unit, Victor Force, deployed additional personnel to block all possible escape routes through the dense foliage of the orchard, besides lighting the area.
During the summer months, dense foliage provides natural cover, making surveillance difficult and allowing trapped terrorists to exploit blind spots to break cordons.
According to security records, the trapped terrorists are residents of Kulgam district in south Kashmir. While Zakir is said to be associated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba since 2024, Latif joined the ranks of the LeT last year.
Shopian has historically served as a crucial transit corridor connecting south Kashmir with central Kashmir and the Pir Panjal mountain range.
Although foreign terrorists are increasingly being used to launch attacks, containing local operatives like Latif and Zakir remains vital to disrupt logistical networks and break the cycle of local recruitment, officials said.
