Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, July 8

Security forces killed a senior commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) during an ongoing counter-insurgency operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district on Wednesday, dealing a significant blow to the outfit’s network in south Kashmir, officials said.

The slain militant was identified as Zakir Ahmad Ganai, an A++ category commander who had been on the radar of security agencies for his alleged involvement in attacks on security personnel and civilians.

The operation, now in its sixth day, remains underway as security forces continue to search for a second militant believed to be trapped in the cordoned area.

The encounter took place in the Meemandar-Chanapora area of Shopian after joint teams of the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) tightened a cordon around orchards and adjoining villages based on specific intelligence inputs.

Officials said the militants opened fire after security personnel closed in on their hideout, triggering an exchange of gunfire in which Ganai was killed. Arms, ammunition and other military stores were recovered from the site.

The Army said the operation was continuing to trace the second militant, identified by officials as Latif Bhatt.

The search operation began on July 3 after surveillance footage and intelligence inputs indicated the presence of two armed militants moving through the Meemandar-Chanapora belt, a densely cultivated area that has historically provided cover for militant movement.

Security forces deployed additional troops, including Rashtriya Rifles units, Special Operations Group (SOG) personnel and CRPF contingents, to seal potential escape routes while conducting systematic searches across several villages.

Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat visited Shopian on Wednesday to review the operation and assess the security situation on the ground, underscoring the importance attached to the operation by the security establishment.

Officials described Ganai as one of the region’s most wanted militants and said his death would weaken Lashkar-e-Taiba’s operational capabilities in south Kashmir.

The operation highlights the increasing use of intelligence-led surveillance, including technical inputs and real-time monitoring, to track militant movement and coordinate joint operations among multiple security agencies.

Security forces have intensified counter-insurgency operations across Jammu and Kashmir this year as part of the government’s strategy to dismantle militant networks, curb infiltration and prevent attacks on civilians and security personnel.

Officials said search operations in Shopian would continue until the area is fully sanitised and the remaining militant is either apprehended or neutralised.