Massive Security Operation Continues in Shopian as Hunt for LeT Operatives Intensifies

A massive anti-terror operation entered its third consecutive day on Monday in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district , as security forces continued an intensive search for two local operatives of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) believed to be hiding inside a densely vegetated orchard in the Meemandar area.

Officials said the search resumed at daybreak after being temporarily suspended overnight. The two suspects were first detected through surveillance cameras on Friday, prompting a coordinated operation across an orchard belt covering seven villages .

A joint team comprising the Indian Army , Jammu and Kashmir Police , and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) established a tight security cordon around the area. By Sunday evening, security personnel had cleared four villages , while efforts continued to prevent any possible escape through the remaining sections of the orchard.

According to officials, the two suspected militants, identified as Latif and Zakir , allegedly opened fire when security forces closed in on their location. Troops responded effectively, triggering an exchange of fire before the suspects reportedly took advantage of the dense foliage to evade immediate capture.

To strengthen the operation, the Army's specialised Victor Force has deployed additional personnel across the area. Officials said vulnerable escape routes have been sealed, while illumination equipment has been installed to enhance surveillance during the night. Thick summer vegetation has made aerial and ground monitoring more challenging, providing natural concealment within the orchard.

Security agencies said both suspects are residents of Kulgam district in south Kashmir. According to official records, Zakir is believed to have joined the LeT in 2024 , while Latif reportedly became associated with the outfit in 2025 .

Officials noted that Shopian has long remained a strategically significant corridor linking south Kashmir with central Kashmir and the Pir Panjal region. They added that dismantling local militant networks remains crucial for disrupting logistics, limiting recruitment and strengthening counter-insurgency operations across the Valley.