In a major success, security forces early Wednesday morning eliminated a top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist during an anti-terror operation in the Chanapora area of Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district.
The slain terrorist was identified as Zakir Ganie, a self-styled commander of the LeT. He was killed in a fresh gunfight that erupted during the ongoing anti-terror operation. Officials said another terrorist is believed to be trapped inside the cordoned area as the operation entered its fifth consecutive day.
According to official sources, security forces detected suspicious movement in the operation zone during the early hours, leading to a fresh exchange of fire. During the encounter, Zakir Ganie was neutralised in a coordinated operation carried out by the security forces. His body was later recovered from the site along with arms, ammunition, and other incriminating material.
Confirming the development, the Jammu and Kashmir Police, in a post on X, said, "You Can Run But You Can't Hide!" The police said the terrorist was eliminated by the Special Operations Group (SOG), Shopian, in a joint operation with the Army's Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
You Can Run But You Can't Hide !
— J&K Police (@JmuKmrPolice) July 8, 2026
One Lashkar terrorist neutralised by SOG Shopian, in a Jt Op, along with RR and CRPF.
Reports said another terrorist is believed to be hiding within the operation area. Security forces have further strengthened the cordon and intensified search and sanitisation operations while maintaining a high level of alert amid the possibility of another exchange of fire.
Anti-terror operation launched on Saturday
The anti-terror operation was launched on Saturday following specific intelligence inputs regarding the presence of terrorists in the Saidapora area of Shopian. Officials said the operation, now in its fifth day, is being conducted in difficult terrain, with security forces systematically narrowing the search area to eliminate the remaining terrorists.
Senior security officials said the operation is still underway and that further details, including the identity of the other terrorist and any additional recoveries, will be shared after the operation concludes and the area is fully sanitised.
Reports said that two terrorists, namely Latif Bhatt and Zakir Ganie, were trapped in the encounter site. While Zakir Ganie has been killed, Latif Bhatt is believed to still be trapped in the encounter site.
They were trapped on Saturday when they opened fire on the security forces, after which a fierce gunfight began as the forces fired back. Officials said they had plugged all possible escape routes from the orchard.
Records show the two terrorists are residents of the Kulgam district. Zakir is believed to have joined Lashkar in 2024 and Latif in 2025.
Security agencies reiterated their commitment to sustaining anti-terror operations across Jammu and Kashmir to dismantle the terror ecosystem and maintain lasting peace and security in the region.
