Top Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Zakir Ganai killed in Shopian encounter
Police says weapons, ammunition and other war materials seized from clash site, operation underway.
STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, JULY 08 (STC): A top Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist was killed in an anti-terrorism operation in Chanapora area of southern Shopian district, while a search is underway for another militant possibly present in the area. According to the National News Bureau (NNB), a top Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Zakir Ganai has been killed during an anti-terror operation in Chanapora area of Shopian district, while according to the police, another militant is suspected to be present in the area and the operation is still ongoing. A senior police officer said that Zakir Ganai was under siege by security forces along with one of his associates for the past five days. He was killed during a joint operation on Wednesday, while his body was recovered from the village. According to the officer, arms, ammunition and other war material have also been seized from the scene. He said that the killing of Zakir Ganai is a major success for the security forces as he was an active and important commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba.
According to police officials, repeated firing was also heard near the scene of the clash, suggesting that another militant is hiding in the area. In view of this, the security forces have tightened the siege of the area and a search operation is underway.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Police wrote in a statement on social media platform X, “You can run, but you can’t hide. A Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist has been killed in a joint operation by the Special Operations Group, the Army’s 55 Rashtriya Rifles and the CRPF in Shopian.”
Meanwhile, the Army’s Chinar Corps wrote in a statement on social media platform X, “Operation Chanapur was launched on the basis of specific intelligence inputs. According to reports, the joint operation was carried out after receiving confirmed information about the presence of terrorists in the area. According to the statement, the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) participated in this joint operation. Security forces launched a siege and search operation in the general area of Chanapur, during which the hiding terrorists opened fire on the forces. The forces immediately retaliated, resulting in a fierce clash. Zakir Ganai, a terrorist affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba, was killed in the encounter.
According to Chinar Corps, weapons, ammunition and other war-related equipment have also been recovered from the encounter site, which have been seized and further investigations have been initiated. The army said that in view of the possible presence of other terrorists in the area, a search operation is underway, while the entire area has been cordoned off and the search operation has been intensified.
(Straight Talk Communications)
