Srinagar: Security forces continued an operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district on Sunday, resuming the hunt for two local terrorists affiliated with the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit, who have been surrounded in a dense orchard.

The search recommenced after the two suspects were detected by surveillance equipment on Friday within the Meemandar area, a region encompassing seven villages. A collaborative force, comprising units from the Army, the Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force, established a secure perimeter, successfully clearing four of the villages by Saturday evening.

The cornered terrorists have been identified as Latif and Zakir. According to officials, the pair initiated fire on approaching Army personnel, who returned fire and triggered a gunfight.

The Army's specialised counter-insurgency unit, the Victor Force, has bolstered its presence by deploying additional troops to seal all potential exit routes through the orchard's thick vegetation. The area has also been illuminated to maintain visibility.

Security officials noted that the heavy foliage present during the summer months provides significant natural cover, complicating surveillance efforts and creating blind spots that trapped terrorists may attempt to exploit to breach cordons.

Records indicate that both suspects are from the Kulgam district in south Kashmir. Zakir is reportedly linked to the LeT since 2024, while Latif was recruited into the organisation last year.

Shopian has long functioned as a strategic transit corridor linking south Kashmir to central Kashmir and the Pir Panjal range. Officials emphasised that while foreign terrorists are increasingly involved in attacks, neutralising local operatives like Latif and Zakir remains essential to dismantling logistical networks and interrupting the cycle of local recruitment.

With inputs from PTI