Srinagar | Updated: July 5, 2026
An overnight anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district entered its second day on Sunday as security forces resumed searches for two local terrorists of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba outfit.
Officials said the two terrorists were cornered in a dense orchard in the Meemandar area of Shopian.
The search operation was resumed after surveillance cameras spotted the two terrorists on Friday in the orchard area, which comprises seven villages.
A joint team of the army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force launched a cordon-and-search operation in the area.
Officials said several columns of security forces laid a tight cordon and cleared four villages by evening.
The two trapped terrorists have been identified as Latif and Zakir.
According to officials, the terrorists opened fire on approaching Army personnel. The army retaliated, triggering a gunfight.
The Army’s specialized counter-insurgency unit, Victor Force, has deployed additional personnel in the area.
Officials said all possible escape routes through the thick orchard foliage have been plugged. The area has also been lit up to prevent the terrorists from escaping under the cover of darkness.
Security officials said dense foliage during the summer months makes surveillance difficult and provides natural cover to terrorists. It also allows them to exploit blind spots and attempt to break security cordons.
According to security records, both terrorists are residents of the Kulgam district in south Kashmir.
Zakir is reportedly associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba since 2024, while Latif joined the outfit last year.
Shopian has long been considered a key transit corridor connecting south Kashmir with central Kashmir and the Pir Panjal range.
Officials said that while foreign terrorists are increasingly being used in attacks, containing local operatives remains important for disrupting logistics networks and stopping local recruitment.
The search operation is continuing in the area.
