Srinagar, Jul 5: Security forces on Sunday resumed a massive Cordon-and-Search Operation (CASO) in Shopian district of south Kashmir after an overnight pause, with two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists believed to hiding in dense orchards in the Meemandar area.
The operation, now in its second day, involves Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), who have tightened the cordon around the area where the terrorists were first spotted by surveillance cameras on Friday.
The encounter erupted when the terrorists opened fire at an approaching Army team, prompting immediate retaliation.
Search teams from the Army’s Victor Force have since been reinforced to seal all possible escape routes through the thick foliage.
Security personnel have also illuminated the area to counter the natural cover provided by the dense summer orchard, which creates significant blind spots for surveillance.
By Saturday evening, security forces had cleared four villages while maintaining a tight cordon around the remaining area.
During the summer months, the heavy foliage offers a natural cover, making surveillance difficult and allowing trapped terrorists to exploit blind spots to break the cordons.
According to security establishment officials trapped terrorists are believed to be residents of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
The encounter comes amid heightened security for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra and is the first reported gunfight in Kashmir since Kulgam encounter in October last year.
The operation also reflects the increasing integration of CCTV networks and other technical surveillance with conventional intelligence gathering in Kashmir, enabling security forces to detect terrorist movement and launch targeted operations while reducing dependence on prolonged area searches.
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