A surveillance camera helped security forces trace two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district, triggering a large counter-terrorism operation that continued on Saturday.
According to sources, the two terrorists were first spotted on camera near the Pulwama district border a day before the gunfight began.
After the footage was analysed, security forces launched a search operation and placed five villages under a security cordon, including Chanapora, where an exchange of fire later took place. No fresh firing has been reported since Friday.
The operation intensified on Friday after the terrorists were tracked to a dense orchard in the Meemandar area of Shopian.
A joint team of the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) surrounded the area and secured four of the seven villages in the region by evening
Officials said the two trapped terrorists, identified as Latif and Zakir, opened fire when security personnel moved in. The forces retaliated, leading to a fierce gun battle.
Officials said additional personnel have been deployed to block all possible escape routes from the orchard, where thick summer foliage provides natural cover.
Security agencies believe the terrorists could use the dense vegetation to evade the security cordon, making the operation particularly challenging.
According to security records, both Latif and Zakir are residents of Kulgam district.
Officials said Zakir joined the Lashkar-e-Taiba in 2024, while Latif became associated with the outfit in 2025.
