On 8th July (Wednesday), top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Zakir Ganai was killed in an encounter in the Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir. The major breakthrough happened after a significant operation as security forces continued to hunt him for multiple days. Ammunition and weapons were found close to the body.
Security agencies categorised him as an A++ category terrorist. He was one of the two terrorists who had been evading capture for five days.
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.
Ganai and his accomplice Latief Bhat were spotted on CCTV footage in a dense orchard on 3rd July. They were travelling through the Saidpora neighbourhood of Chhanapora. The details about their whereabouts prompted a massive operation. The area was cordoned off, and the action started right away.
Latif reportedly joined Lashkar-e-Taiba last year, while Ganai entered the terror outfit in 2024. The duo is from the Kulgam district in south Kashmir. Officials hailed Ganai’s death as a key victory in the counter-terrorism campaign.
Yesterday, terrorist Zakir Ganie and another unidentified terrorist were captured on CCTV footage in the Shopian . pic.twitter.com/ipyZoHfpgz
— Suraj Kumar 🔃 (@SurajKumar180) July 4, 2026
The security officers reportedly engaged terrorists in a gunfight. The Army’s specialised counter-insurgency unit, Victor Force, blocked off all potential escape routes through the orchard and illuminated the area to improve visibility. The search is now focused on tracing Bhat. Teams from the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have conducted extensive combing operations, which consist of 7 villages.
Security agencies were able to plan the extensive search operation and confirm their presence with the use of the footage and other intelligence inputs. However, the thick vegetation provides a natural cover throughout the summer, making surveillance challenging and enabling terrorists who are stranded to take advantage of blind areas to breach the cordons.
According to security authorities, eliminating local militants continues to be a key goal, although foreign terrorists are becoming more involved in routine attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. They emphasised that to weaken local terrorist networks, thwart recruitment attempts and stop terrorist outfits from re-establishing their base of support in the area, it is essential to neutralise individuals like Ganai and Latif.
