Srinagar, July 8: A top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist, identified as Zakir Ganie, was killed in a fresh gunfight that erupted early Wednesday morning during the ongoing anti-terror operation in the Chanapora area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district. 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 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 stated that 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).
Official sources said that 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.
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 terrorist.
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.
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. (KNC)
