Shopian, July 8 — Security forces achieved a major breakthrough in south Kashmir with the elimination of a top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander during a joint operation in the Chanapora area of Shopian district. The deceased operative has been identified as Zakir Ganie, a high-ranking commander within the proscribed terror outfit.
The multi-day operation commenced over the weekend when a combined team of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Indian Army’s 55 Rashtriya Rifles, and the Central Reserve Police Force cordoned off the area. Following an exchange of fire, a thorough search of the vicinity led to the recovery of Ganie’s body from a local structure, alongside a significant cache of arms and ammunition.
Senior law enforcement authorities described the elimination of the senior commander as a substantial blow to the active terror network in the region. Police officials affirmed that the successful coordination among the security wings prevented potential disruptions to public peace.
A senior police officer overseeing the district’s security grid stated that the successful neutralization represents a critical milestone in ongoing counter-insurgency efforts. Representatives maintained that the recovery of military-grade hardware from the encounter site has effectively thwarted future planned strikes in the valley.
In an official public update shared on social media, the police department declared that the security apparatus remains fully capable of tracking down disruptive elements across the terrain. Authorities added that tactical teams are continuing sanitization procedures in the sector as further administrative details regarding the engagement are being processed.
