Two hybrid terrorists affiliated with the Pakistan-backed terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) surrendered on Wednesday during a joint operation carried out by Indian security forces in the Baskuchan area of Shopian district, Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Shopian Police, the surrendered terrorists have been identified as Irfan Bashir and Uzair Salam.
The joint operation was launched following specific intelligence input and involved the Special Operations Group (SOG) Shopian, 44 Rashtriya Rifles, and the 178 Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). During the operation, the security personnel successfully persuaded the two individuals to surrender.
Security forces recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from their possession, including two AK-56 rifles, four magazines, 102 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition, two hand grenades, and two pouches.
An FIR has been registered, and authorities have launched a detailed investigation to uncover the surrendered terrorists’ past links, operational roles, and affiliations.
The development comes amid a heightened counter-terrorism campaign in Jammu and Kashmir. On May 16, VK Birdi, Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the Kashmir Zone, announced that six terrorists were neutralised in two separate operations in the Kelar (Shopian) and Tral areas.
“In the wake of heightened terror activities in Kashmir Valley, all the security forces deployed here reviewed their strategies. Following this review, there was an intensified focus on operations. On the basis of this intensified focus and coordination, we conducted two successful operations in the last 48 hours during which we had significant achievement. These two operations were conducted in the Kelar in Shopian and Tral areas, which resulted in the neutralisation of a total of six terrorists. We are committed to finish the terror ecosystem in Kashmir Valley,” IGP VK Birdi said.
These actions follow the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, including a Nepali national. Since then, Indian forces have intensified their operations across the valley to dismantle terrorist networks and eliminate threats.