Two Lashkar Terrorists Trapped as Massive Counter-Terror Operation Continues in Shopian

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, July 5, 2026: Security forces are continuing a major counter-terrorism operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district to neutralise two suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists who are believed to be trapped in an orchard.

According to sources, the operation was launched on Friday after the two militants were spotted on surveillance cameras inside the orchard. A joint team of the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) subsequently launched a large-scale cordon and search operation.

The operation covers an area comprising seven villages. By Friday evening, security forces had secured and cleared four villages while maintaining a tight cordon around the orchard to prevent any escape.

The trapped militants have been identified as Latif and Zakir, both residents of Kulgam district. Officials said the duo opened fire on the advancing security personnel, triggering a fierce exchange of gunfire. Security forces have sealed all possible escape routes from the area.

According to official records, Zakir joined the Lashkar-e-Taiba in 2024, while Latif is believed to have joined the outfit in 2025.

Officials said Shopian has long served as a key transit corridor linking south Kashmir with central Kashmir and the Pir Panjal range. During the summer, dense foliage in the region provides natural cover, which militants often exploit to evade security operations.

Security agencies said that while Pakistan-backed foreign militants continue to pose a significant threat, eliminating local operatives such as Latif and Zakir is crucial to disrupting militant logistics and curbing local recruitment networks.