In a major counter-terror success, security forces neutralised two terrorists during a fierce encounter in Chanpora village of Shopian district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Saturday evening.
The gunfight erupted around 7:45 pm after a joint team of the Army’s 44, 20, and 34 Rashtriya Rifles, 3 Para, and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a coordinated operation based on intelligence inputs.
The slain terrorists were identified as Zakir Ahmad Ganie, a suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba operative from Kulgam, and his associate Latif Bhatt. Officials described Ganie as a “top operative” of the outfit, whose elimination marks a significant blow to the group’s network in South Kashmir.
According to reports, the terrorists had been cornered in a residential area, leading to a prolonged exchange of fire. Security forces maintained strict cordon-and-search measures to prevent civilian casualties, ensuring the operation was contained within the targeted zone.
The encounter highlights the continuing challenges in Kashmir, where security forces remain engaged in sustained anti-terror operations. Over the past months, intensified intelligence-driven missions have led to the neutralisation of several high-profile militants, disrupting recruitment and logistics chains of terror outfits.
Local residents reported heavy firing during the operation, which lasted several hours. Authorities have since reinforced security in the area to prevent any retaliatory incidents.
