Indian security forces have eliminated a suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist in a joint operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district, with officials declaring, "You can run, but you can't hide," as the search for another militant continues.
The slain terrorist has been identified as Zakir Ahmad Ganie, a suspected LeT commander from Kulgam district. According to officials, he had been under surveillance after intelligence inputs and CCTV footage captured two armed militants moving through dense orchards in the Meemandar area of Shopian on July 3. Security forces subsequently launched a large-scale cordon and search operation involving the Jammu and Kashmir Police's Special Operations Group (SOG), the Indian Army's Rashtriya Rifles (RR), and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
After several days of intensive surveillance, the operation culminated in an encounter on Wednesday. Jammu and Kashmir Police announced the success on social media with the message, "You Can Run, But You Can't Hide!", confirming that one Lashkar terrorist had been neutralised in the joint operation. Authorities recovered arms and ammunition from the encounter site.
Officials said the anti-terror operation is not yet over, as security personnel continue combing the area to trace a second militant believed to have been hiding alongside Ganie. The dense orchard terrain and multiple escape routes have made the search challenging, prompting forces to maintain a tight security cordon around the area.
The encounter marks another significant counter-terror success for security forces in south Kashmir, where intelligence-driven operations have been intensified in recent months to dismantle militant networks and prevent future attacks. Authorities have not disclosed further operational details, citing security concerns, while the search operation remains active.
