KASHMIR: A major counter-terrorism operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district ended with the killing of top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Zakir Ganai on Wednesday, marking a significant success for Indian security forces after a five-day-long search operation. Officials confirmed that Ganai was neutralised during an encounter in the dense orchard belt of south Kashmir, where he and another militant had been hiding for several days.
The operation, jointly conducted by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), began after surveillance systems detected suspicious militant movement in the area on July 3. Since then, security personnel maintained an extensive cordon while carrying out systematic searches to prevent the terrorists from escaping.
Intelligence-Led Operation
According to security officials, technical surveillance first identified two suspected terrorists moving through a densely wooded orchard in the Meemander-Saidpora region of Shopian. Acting on the intelligence, multiple security units launched a coordinated search-and-cordon operation covering several nearby villages.
The terrain posed significant operational challenges because of thick vegetation, orchards and interconnected routes that could have been used by militants to evade security forces. Additional troops were deployed to seal possible escape paths while aerial surveillance and ground teams monitored the area continuously.
Officials stated that intermittent exchanges of fire took place during the operation over the past few days, but the forces maintained pressure without allowing the militants to break the security cordon.
Zakir Ganai Neutralised
On Wednesday morning, security forces established fresh contact with the hiding militants, leading to another exchange of gunfire. During the encounter, Zakir Ganai was killed and his body was later recovered from the operation site.
Authorities identified him as a senior Lashkar-e-Taiba commander who had been active in south Kashmir. His death is being viewed as a major setback for the Pakistan-based terror outfit’s local network operating in the region.
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Security agencies said identification procedures were completed after the recovery of the body, while weapons and other material found at the encounter site are being examined as part of the ongoing investigation.
Hunt Continues for Another Terrorist
While one militant has been eliminated, officials believe another terrorist remains in the area. Security forces have continued search operations to ensure that no militant escapes the security cordon.
The operation has not been called off, and reinforcements remain deployed across the affected villages. Teams are conducting house-to-house searches and combing nearby orchards using drones and advanced surveillance equipment.
Officials said the priority remains the safe completion of the operation while ensuring there is no threat to civilians living in the surrounding areas.
Multi-Agency Coordination
The successful operation highlighted close coordination among various security agencies operating in Jammu and Kashmir.
Personnel from the Indian Army, the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG), Rashtriya Rifles and the CRPF jointly participated in the mission. Such coordinated operations have become a key component of counter-terror efforts in the Kashmir Valley, where intelligence sharing and rapid deployment play a critical role.
Officials noted that maintaining a tight security perimeter over several days was essential in preventing the militants from escaping under the cover of darkness or using local routes through orchards.
Police Message After Operation
Soon after the encounter, Jammu and Kashmir Police shared a brief message on social media indicating the success of the operation, stating that militants cannot evade security forces indefinitely.
The message reflected the continued resolve of security agencies to sustain counter-terror operations across the Valley and dismantle militant networks operating in the region.
Security Situation in South Kashmir
Shopian has witnessed several counter-insurgency operations over the years because of militant activity in parts of south Kashmir. Dense orchards and forested areas often provide temporary hideouts, making search operations lengthy and technically demanding.
Security agencies have increasingly relied on surveillance technology, drones and intelligence-based operations to locate militants while minimising risks to both personnel and civilians.
Officials said such sustained operations are aimed at disrupting militant infrastructure and preventing terrorists from regrouping in vulnerable areas.
Investigation Underway
Authorities are continuing forensic examination of the weapons, communication devices and other materials recovered during the operation. Investigators are also analysing whether the slain commander was linked to recent terror-related incidents in the Valley.
Meanwhile, security forces remain on high alert as search teams continue to comb the remaining areas in an effort to locate the second suspected militant believed to have been present during the operation.
Officials reiterated that the operation would continue until the entire area is declared secure, with security measures remaining in place across the affected region.
The successful elimination of Zakir Ganai marks another significant development in the ongoing campaign against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, although authorities have made it clear that vigilance and operations will continue until all remaining threats are neutralised.
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