Two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists were arrested in a joint operation by the Army, police and the CRPF in Kashmir's Shopian as the armed forces intensified its crackdown on terrorism following the Pahalgam attack. Two AK-56 rifles, four magazines, two hand grenades and ammunition were also recovered.

Cash worth Rs 5,400 and an Aadhaar card were also recovered. The operation at Shopian's Baskuchan Imamsahib was carried out by the Army's 44 RR, police, and 178 CRPF.

In a statement, the police said the two LeT terrorists - Irfan Bashir and Uzair Salam - surrendered, averting a potential encounter.

"In a major operational success, a cordon and search operation was launched at Baskuchan... The area was effectively cordoned off, and movement of terrorists was observed in a nearby orchard. Swift and strategic action by the forces led to the successful surrender of two LeT hybrid terrorists," the statement said.

The operation came as security forces turned the focus of their anti-terror operations to specific areas in south Kashmir after the April 22 attack in Pahalgam's Baisaran valley, which left 26 dead.

Earlier this month, six terrorists were killed in two separate encounters in the Keller area of Shopian and the Nadar area of Tral in Pulwama. Three terrorists each were killed in the two operations.

Among them was Shahid Kuttay, a top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander. Kuttay was involved in the attack on a sarpanch in Heerpora, Shopian, and the firing incident at Danish Resort on April 8, 2024, in which two German tourists were injured.

Source: India Today