Listen to this article:

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........

© The Wire