Srinagar: The search operation to track down two local terrorists of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba entered its fourth day in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Tuesday, with security forces resuming combing operations after an overnight pause, officials said.
The searches resumed at daybreak after being suspended overnight. The two terrorists were first spotted by surveillance cameras on July 3 in a dense orchard in the Meemandar area, which comprises seven villages.
A joint team of several columns of the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has maintained a tight cordon around the area. Security forces had cleared four villages by Monday evening.
The trapped terrorists, identified as Latif and Zakir, allegedly opened fire at the Army personnel as they closed in, triggering an exchange of fire, officials said.
The Army’s specialised counter-insurgency unit, Victor Force, has deployed additional personnel to seal all possible escape routes through the thick orchard foliage, besides lighting up the area.
During the summer months, the heavy foliage offers a natural cover, making surveillance difficult and allowing trapped terrorists to exploit blind spots to break the cordons, they said.
According to security records, both terrorists are residents of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district. While Zakir has been reportedly associated with the LeT since 2024, Latif joined the outfit last year.
Shopian has historically served as a critical transit corridor connecting south Kashmir to central Kashmir and the Pir Panjal range.
Officials said while foreign terrorists have increasingly been used for attacks, containing local operatives like Latif and Zakir remains vital to disrupting the logistics networks and breaking the cycle of local recruitment.
