Shopian anti-terror operation enters third day as forces tighten cordon

The joint anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district entered its third day on Monday as security forces intensified efforts to trace two suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists hiding in orchards, tightening the cordon and deploying additional personnel to prevent their escape.

Srinagar: The search operation by the joint forces to trace two local terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit entered its third day on Monday in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district.

The operation was started on Saturday after two local LeT terrorists were believed to be hiding in the fruit orchards in Saidpora village of the district.

---

The searches were resumed on Monday with the first light after a nightlong suspension to track down the two terrorists who were spotted by surveillance cameras on Friday last in an 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 laid a tight cordon around the area and cleared four villages by Sunday evening.

The two trapped terrorists have been identified as Latif and Zakir. They opened fire on the approaching Army personnel, who effectively retaliated, triggering a gunfight.

Officials said the Army’s specialised counter-insurgency unit, the Victor Force, has deployed additional personnel to plug all possible escape routes through the thick foliage of the orchard, 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.

According to security records, both the trapped terrorists are residents of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district. While Zakir has reportedly been associated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba since 2024, Latif joined the terror outfit last year.

Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir has served as a strategic and highly active hub for terrorist organisations like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and The Resistance Front (TRF), acting as a transit corridor connecting south Kashmir to the Pir Panjal range.

The region’s complex history with militancy owes itself to the district’s dense apple orchards and rough terrain, which have historically provided natural cover for militants to hide, evade cordons, and stage attacks.

Over the years, terrorists in Shopian have been involved in high-profile attacks on minority communities, local labourers, and security forces.

The Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF maintain a heavy counter-terror presence in the area (including the Victor Force) to dismantle militant networks.