Srinagar : A joint counterterrorism operation by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and other security agencies entered its third consecutive day on Sunday as forces continued searching for two suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants trapped in the Shopian district of South Kashmir.
The operation began on Friday afternoon after Army surveillance cameras detected the movement of two armed militants in a dense orchard near the Memander area. Security forces immediately launched a large-scale cordon-and-search operation (CASO), surrounding multiple nearby villages to prevent the suspects from escaping.
According to officials, the search operation covers seven villages, including Chanapora, Syedpora, Syedoo, Amshipora, Shamshipora, Hard Handio, and surrounding areas. As part of the operation, authorities evacuated several villages to ensure the safety of civilians while tightening the security cordon.
The two militants have been identified as Latif and Zakir, both believed to be local operatives from Kulgam district. Officials said the suspects opened fire on advancing security personnel, triggering an exchange of gunfire. No casualties among security forces have been officially reported so far.
The Army’s Victor Force, a specialized counter-insurgency unit, has deployed additional troops to seal all possible escape routes around the orchard. Security personnel are also using night illumination equipment, surveillance technology, and continuous monitoring to prevent the militants from taking advantage of the thick summer vegetation, which provides natural concealment and creates blind spots.
Security records indicate that Zakir has allegedly been associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba since 2024, while Latif is believed to have joined the militant organization last year.
Officials noted that Shopian has historically served as a strategic transit corridor connecting South Kashmir, Central Kashmir, and the Pir Panjal Range, making the region operationally significant for both security forces and militant movements.
Security agencies emphasized that although the use of foreign militants in terrorist attacks has increased in recent years, dismantling local militant networks remains a key priority. Officials believe that apprehending or neutralizing local operatives such as Latif and Zakir is essential to disrupting logistics networks, weakening local recruitment, and reducing militant support infrastructure.
The search operation remains underway, with security forces maintaining a tight perimeter and continuing systematic searches across the affected villages. Authorities have urged residents to cooperate with security personnel and follow official advisories until the operation concludes.
