Suspected LeT Commander Killed in J&K's Shopian, Security Forces Search For His Associate

Shopian: The Jammu and Kashmir police claimed on Wednesday (July 8) that after five days of an intensive Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in the dense apple orchards in south Kashmir's Shopian district, a suspected militant identified as top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander, Zakir Ganie was killed in a joint operation with the army. Ganie's killing has dealt a serious blow to the militant outfit while forces continue the hunt for his associate who is believed to be trapped within the cordoned area, authorities said.

The encounter started after a CCTV camera video showing two militants walking through apple orchards in south Kashmir went viral.

According to media reports, Ganie was among 14 militants identified by intelligence agencies following the April 22,2025 Pahalgam attack. His body was recovered after security forces established contact with the militants on the fifth day of the operation, which has become one of the valley's longest anti-terror missions in recent months.

The encounter also marked the first gunfight reported in Kashmir since October last year, even as the valley has witnessed sharp decline in the encounters. In 2025, over 60% of all violent militant activity in the region occurred in the Jammu division, a sharp increase from only 5% in 2018.

The operation was triggered after surveillance cameras installed in the Meemandar area of Shopian district on July 3 captured two suspected LeT militants moving through dense orchards. A short video clip, which circulated widely on social media, purportedly showed the men dressed in pherans, the traditional Kashmiri gown, with rifles slung over their shoulders as they walked through the orchards.

While the footage has neither been officially released nor authenticated by security agencies, officials said it formed part of the technical intelligence that helped narrow down the militants' location and prompted a joint CASO around Chanapora village of shopian and nearby areas.

Over the next five days, security personnel searched orchards and nearby villages using drones, surveillance equipment and other technical inputs before finally establishing contact with the militants.

Officials said that an exchange of gunfire erupted as the security forces closed in on the hiding militants, resulting in the killing of Ganie. His body was later recovered from the encounter site, police claimed.

With Ganie confirmed dead, security forces have now shifted their focus to locating Latif Bhat, the second suspected LeT militant believed to be hiding within the cordoned area. Search operations are continuing across seven villages, with authorities refusing to disclose operational details citing security concerns.

The massive operation has turned an otherwise quiet orchard belt into a heavily fortified security zone. Several columns of the Army's Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Jammu and Kashmir Police's Special Operations Group (SOG), the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and other police units have maintained a tight cordon around the area.

All possible exit routes sealed

To prevent any escape, the army's specialised counter-insurgency formation, Victor Force, has sealed all possible exit routes through the thick orchard canopy and illuminated large sections of the area during the night to improve visibility.

Police and army said that the dense summer foliage presents one of the biggest operational challenges in Kashmir's counter-insurgency grid. Thick tree cover creates natural concealment, limits aerial surveillance and provides militants with multiple blind spots to evade security cordons.

According to security records, both Ganie and Bhat are residents of neighbouring Kulgam district. Ganie had reportedly joined the LeT in 2024, while Latif became part of the outfit last year.

Historically, Shopian has remained strategically important in Kashmir's militancy landscape, serving as a transit corridor linking south Kashmir with central Kashmir and the Pir Panjal region.

Confirming the development, Jammu and Kashmir Police posted on X: "You Can Run But You Can't Hide! One Lashkar terrorist neutralised by SOG Shopian, in a joint operation along with RR and CRPF."

You Can Run But You Can't Hide !

One Lashkar terrorist neutralised by SOG Shopian, in a Jt Op, along with RR and CRPF.

— J&K Police (@JmuKmrPolice) July 8, 2026

The encounter is part of a wider intelligence-led counter-terror campaign underway across Jammu and Kashmir.

Security agencies have intensified surveillance-driven operations in recent months to dismantle militant networks, prevent infiltration and curb militant activity in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.

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