Lashkar Terrorist Killed After Five-Day Anti-Terror Operation in J-K's Shopian

A Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist was killed in a joint anti-terror operation carried out by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district on Wednesday, bringing an end to a five-day-long search and cordon operation in the region.

The operation began on July 3 after security agencies received intelligence about the presence of terrorists hiding in the Meemandar area , a dense orchard belt spread across seven villages in south Kashmir. Acting swiftly, a joint team comprising the Jammu and Kashmir Police's Special Operations Group (SOG) , the Indian Army's 55 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and 44 Rashtriya Rifles , along with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) , launched an extensive search and sealed off the area.

Security personnel maintained a tight cordon throughout the operation, preventing the terrorists from escaping despite the challenging terrain. Officials said there were intermittent exchanges of fire between the security forces and the hiding terrorists over the past several days as the operation continued.

Confirming the development, the Jammu and Kashmir Police announced on social media that one Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist had been neutralised during the joint operation conducted by the SOG, Army and CRPF.

Officials had earlier identified the terrorists believed to be trapped in the area as Latif and Zakir . However, authorities have not yet confirmed the identity of the terrorist killed or disclosed whether any other militants remain in the area.

The successful operation is part of the security forces' sustained counter-terror campaign in south Kashmir, where intelligence-based operations have been intensified to dismantle terrorist networks and prevent militant activity. Security agencies are continuing searches in the area to ensure that no remaining terrorists manage to escape and to sanitise the entire locality.