Gunshots were reported on Saturday during a cordon and search operation (CASO) in Shopian district, Jammu and Kashmir. The operation was conducted in the Saidpora area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district by joint security forces based on intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists. Following the gunshots, reinforcements were deployed to completely secure the area.
Search operations are currently ongoing in the region as per police sources. Shopian district, although relatively peaceful like the rest of the Valley, has seen sporadic militant activities since the 1990s. The district witnessed a shift in its security landscape after 2008, becoming a hub for home-grown militancy, targeted killings, and intense counter-terrorism operations.
The area, situated in south Kashmir, has a history of terrorist presence dating back to the insurgency years. This period saw significant violence, including the displacement of local Kashmiri Pandit communities. In 2009, civil unrest erupted in the district following the deaths of two local women, leading to widespread protests and heightened tensions between residents and security forces.
Since 2015, Shopian has emerged as a significant center of local militancy, with young educated individuals joining groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). The region has witnessed attacks on various targets, including politicians, security personnel, and minority communities, prompting some families to relocate from the area.
To combat terrorism in the district, security forces such as the Army, CRPF, and J&K Police have intensified cordon and search operations, resulting in the elimination of several militant commanders and disruption of terrorist infrastructure.
