Srinagar

Security forces on Tuesday continued their search for two suspected local militants linked to the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district, with the operation entering its fourth day.

Officials said combing operations resumed at first light after being halted overnight. The two militants were initially detected by surveillance cameras on July 3 in a densely wooded orchard in the Meemandar area, which spans seven villages.

A joint team comprising the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has maintained a multi-layered security cordon around the area. By Monday evening, security personnel had completed search operations in four of the seven villages.

According to officials, the two suspects, identified as Latif and Zakir, allegedly fired at Army personnel after being cornered, leading to an exchange of gunfire.

The Army's specialised counter-insurgency formation, Victor Force, has reinforced the operation by deploying additional personnel to block potential escape routes through the dense orchards. The area has also been illuminated to improve visibility during the operation.

Officials said the thick summer foliage in the orchards makes aerial and ground surveillance difficult, creating opportunities for militants to exploit blind spots and evade the security cordon.

Security agencies identified both men as residents of Kulgam district in south Kashmir. Zakir is believed to have joined the Lashkar-e-Taiba in 2024, while Latif reportedly became part of the outfit last year.

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Shopian has long been regarded as a strategically important route linking south Kashmir with central Kashmir and the Pir Panjal region. Officials said that although foreign militants have increasingly been involved in attacks, tracking down local operatives remains essential to disrupting militant logistics and curbing fresh recruitment in the region.