Search for Two LeT Terrorists Enters Fourth Day in Shopian

Srinagar, July 7: The search operation to track down two local terrorists affiliated with the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) entered its fourth day in Jammu and Kashmir‘s Shopian district on Tuesday, with security forces resuming combing operations after an overnight pause, officials said.

The operation resumed at first light in the Meemandar area after being suspended overnight as part of standard operational procedure. The two terrorists were first detected on surveillance cameras on July 3 while moving through a dense orchard in the area, triggering a massive search operation.

Security forces have maintained a tight multi-layered cordon around the area, which comprises seven villages, to prevent the militants from escaping.

A joint team of the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is conducting the operation, with multiple columns engaged in systematic searches of orchards, agricultural fields and residential pockets.

Officials said security personnel had cleared four of the seven villages by Monday evening, while searches in the remaining areas were continuing on Tuesday.

The operation is being carried out with the support of surveillance equipment and other technical resources to trace the hiding terrorists.

No contact with the militants has been established so far, and there have been no reports of any exchange of fire. Officials said the search operation would continue until the terrorists are located and the area is fully sanitised. (Agencies)