J&K: LeT Commander Zakir Ganai Eliminated in Shopian After Four-Day Anti-Terror Operation

Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Zakir Ganai was killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district on Wednesday, bringing to a close an intensive anti-terror operation that had been underway for the past several days.

Ganai was among two militants first detected through surveillance cameras in a dense orchard in Shopian on July 3, prompting a massive search operation involving the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

Confirming the operation, Jammu and Kashmir Police posted on X, saying, “You can run, but you can’t hide. One Lashkar terrorist neutralised by SOG Shopian in a joint operation with the Rashtriya Rifles and CRPF.”

Officials said Ganai’s body was recovered after fresh gunfire erupted near the encounter site in the Chanapora area. Earlier in the day, security forces had recovered an unidentified body, which was subsequently identified as that of the LeT commander.

Search On for Second Militant

Following Ganai’s killing, security forces have shifted their focus to tracking down the second militant, identified as Latif, who is believed to be hiding within the cordoned area.

The operation remains active across seven villages in Shopian, with teams from the Army, J&K Police and CRPF conducting extensive combing operations. Reinforcements from the Army’s Victor Force have also been deployed to tighten the cordon, block potential escape routes and continue searches through the night.

Officials said the dense summer foliage has complicated the operation by providing natural cover for the militants.

Local Militants in Focus

According to security agencies, both Zakir Ganai and Latif are residents of Kulgam district in south Kashmir. Investigators believe Ganai joined Lashkar-e-Taiba in 2024, while Latif is suspected to have joined the outfit last year.

Security officials said neutralising local operatives is critical to weakening the terror ecosystem in Kashmir, as they often facilitate logistics, recruitment and safe shelter for militant organisations. Shopian remains a strategically significant district because of its connectivity to south Kashmir, central Kashmir and the Pir Panjal region, making it an important corridor for militant movement.

While the killing of Zakir Ganai marks a significant success for the security forces, the operation will continue until Latif is located and the area is fully sanitised, officials said.