- Security forces launched counter-terror operation in Shopian district.
- Two suspected LeT terrorists, Zakir and Latif, surrounded.
- Army, Police, CRPF sealed escape routes, exchanged gunfire.
A massive counter-terror operation is underway in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district, where security forces have surrounded two suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists believed to be hiding inside an orchard.
The operation was launched Friday after both suspects were caught on camera moving through the orchard. The team comprising the Army, the JK Police, and the CRPF has now launched a cordon-and-search operation in the orchards.
Officials said that the area covered by this operation consists of seven villages, and as of Friday evening, security personnel have cleared four of them and are restricting movement in the rest. Escape routes from the orchards have been cordoned off from all sides.
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According to PTI, the two trapped terrorists, Zakir, a resident of Kulgam, has reportedly joined Lashkar-e-Taiba in 2024, while another trapped terrorist, Latif, has reportedly joined LeT in 2025.
During the operation, the two terrorists allegedly opened fire on the security forces, triggering a fierce exchange of gunfire. The encounter broke out on Saturday evening, with a search operation underway for the two suspects. The two suspects are believed to be trapped inside a residential house.
Shopian, Jammu and Kashmir: Search operations resumed in the Chanapora area of Shopian after an encounter between terrorists and security forces broke out on Saturday evening. It is believed that two terrorists are trapped inside a residential house. Army units 44 RR, 20 RR, 55… pic.twitter.com/6ZK92cCHA9
— IANS (@ians_india) July 5, 2026
PTI sources suggest that Shopian continues to be a sensitive district because of its central location that acts as the transit hub from south Kashmir to central Kashmir, including the Pir Panjal mountain range. Because of thick foliage in the orchards and forests in the summer, terrorists have been using it to their advantage to dodge the Cordon and Search operations.
Security agencies pointed out that while it is increasingly being observed that Pakistan-based foreign terrorists are being deployed to execute attacks, the elimination of local militants like Latif and Zakir is equally crucial to undermine the supply chains and prevent local recruitment into terrorist groups.