LeT Terrorist Sighting Sparks Joint Operation in Anantnag

A major alert was sounded in Anantnag district after Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Mohammad Latif was seen at a local market. Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF personnel then launched a joint Jammu and Kashmir security operation to locate Latif. Officials said Latif joined Lashkar-e-Taiba in November and had been active across parts of South Kashmir since then.

Security agencies in the district stayed on high alert after the sighting. Extra personnel were moved to sensitive pockets, and patrols increased on key roads and near public spaces. Intelligence teams also tracked possible support networks for Latif, as officials feared movement towards other areas in South Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir security operation around vital installations in Srinagar

The Anantnag incident followed a wider Jammu and Kashmir security operation carried out three days earlier in Srinagar city. On Tuesday, security forces had already been checking vital installations and sensitive locations in the North Zone of Srinagar. That exercise focused on preventing possible sabotage attempts and tightening existing security cover around important sites.

"Police, in close coordination with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), conducted Area Security/Anti-Sabotage (AST) operations around major vital installations and sensitive locations in the North Zone of Srinagar, with the aim of strengthening preventive security measures and countering any potential threats," a Srinagar police spokesman said.

Expanded Jammu and Kashmir security operation and search in Anantnag

The spokesman added that the wider drill in Srinagar had clear goals linked to safety planning. "He said the purpose of the joint security exercise is to reinforce the overall security grid, enhance operational preparedness, and ensure the safety and security of critical infrastructure as well as the general public. "During the operation, thorough checking and sanitisation of the identified areas were carried out, along with a comprehensive review of existing security arrangements," the spokesman said. Similar security drills were conducted in some areas of Anantnag district.

When Latif was spotted in the Anantnag market, forces tried to move in quickly. However, officials said the terrorist escaped towards nearby forested terrain before a full cordon formed. Personnel then intensified a large-scale Jammu and Kashmir security operation in the adjoining hills and woods, but Latif used dense forest routes to slip away.

Key details of the recent Jammu and Kashmir security operation in the region are listed below.

The search for Mohammad Latif remained ongoing, with agencies watching South Kashmir routes and public zones. Combined with the earlier drills in Srinagar and Anantnag, officials said the Jammu and Kashmir security operation aimed to protect critical infrastructure and residents while tracking the active Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist.