Top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Zakir Ahmad Ganai was killed during an anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district, marking another significant success for security forces in their ongoing crackdown on terrorism in the Valley. Ganai, who was among the 14 most-wanted local terrorists identified after the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, was found dead on Wednesday after security personnel recovered his body from the encounter site. The operation, launched on Saturday, entered its fifth consecutive day as forces continued extensive search operations across the region. Officials said the mission involved the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), with multiple elite units participating to eliminate remaining militants and dismantle terror infrastructure in south Kashmir.

Five-Day Operation Ends in Major Success

The anti-terror operation began in the Chanapora area of Shopian after intelligence agencies received credible inputs about the presence of heavily armed terrorists hiding in the region. Security forces launched a coordinated search involving the Army's Rashtriya Rifles, Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF personnel.

Although two terrorists were neutralised during the initial phase of the operation on Saturday, Ganai's body was recovered only after an extensive search conducted over several days. Dense orchards and difficult terrain reportedly slowed the recovery process, prompting security forces to deploy additional personnel and surveillance measures.

The Army's Victor Force sealed all possible escape routes, while lighting arrangements were installed to facilitate night operations. Search teams continued combing nearby villages and forested areas to ensure no militants managed to flee.

Linked to Multiple Terror Activities

According to security officials, Zakir Ahmad Ganai hailed from Matlahama village in Kulgam district and had been active in south Kashmir and the Pir Panjal region since 2023. Intelligence agencies believe he played an active role in coordinating Pakistan-backed terror activities in the Valley.

His name surfaced prominently during investigations into the April 2026 Pahalgam terror attack, following which central agencies released a list of 14 local terrorists allegedly associated with Pakistan-based terror organisations. Authorities had also demolished the houses of several identified militants as part of the intensified crackdown.

Officials said Ganai had been associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba since 2024 and was considered a key operative within the outfit's local network.

Nine Terrorists Eliminated So Far

With Ganai's elimination, security agencies have neutralised nine of the 14 terrorists identified after the Pahalgam attack. Five militants from the list remain at large and continue to be the focus of intelligence-based operations across south Kashmir.

The government's anti-terror campaign has intensified over the past year through a series of coordinated operations, including Operation Sindoor, Operation Keller, Operation Mahadev, Operation Akhal, Operation Gudder and the ongoing Operation Sherowali. These missions have targeted terrorist hideouts, overground worker networks and infiltration routes across the Union Territory.

Officials maintain that counter-terror operations will continue until the remaining wanted terrorists are tracked down and eliminated.

Village authorities invoke 1956 Act to mandate prior notice for police, army patrols and drone surveillance

Tensions in Manipur took a new turn on Monday as village authorities in Noney district issued a formal notice restricting how security forces can operate in their areas. The Village Authority of Longjang/Thangal village has told the Manipur Police, Assam Rifles and CRPF that personnel cannot enter villages or deploy drones without advance intimation.

The notice, citing the Manipur Hill Areas Village Authority Act of 1956, asserts that village bodies hold responsibility for local security and law and order. Officials said any search operation, patrol, raid or arrest now requires prior communication to village authorities.

Women Block Assam Rifles Again

Just a day earlier, women in Shokwao and New Haven areas of Ukhrul district stopped Assam Rifles personnel from moving forward. Residents continued protesting late into Sunday evening, carrying torches. It remains unclear whether Monday's notice is directly linked to that blockade.

Deadly Week in Kangpokpi

The restrictions come amid a fresh wave of violence. On Monday, a Kuki militant group opened fire in Pongringlong Rongmei Naga village in Kangpokpi district. Shortly after, the body of Chunjanglung Panmei, a Naga village guard reported missing, was recovered from a forest area. He had been shot in the head.

In a separate incident, unidentified armed men fired shots in Ching Mamang village, leaving one person injured. Naga organisations have publicly accused security forces of bias and are demanding an impartial investigation. Some groups have alleged that the Centre is using Kuki outfits to wage what they call a "shadow war" in the state.

Women's Rally Demands NRC

Over in Imphal, thousands of women took to the streets on Monday in a 5-km mega rally. Organised by 14 civil society groups, the protest demanded implementation of the National Register of Citizens and the identification and deportation of illegal immigrants. The turnout suggested growing public frustration over what many see as unchecked inflows across porous borders.

Three Years, 731 Deaths in Relief Camps

Ethnic violence has now persisted in Manipur for nearly three years, with complete peace still elusive. Information obtained through an RTI request has revealed that 731 displaced persons have died while living in relief camps over this period.

Churachandpur district recorded the highest number of deaths at 248, followed by Bishnupur with 151 and Kangpokpi with 128. Official data shows that 43,676 people remain displaced across nine districts of the state, many of them still unwilling or unable to return to their original villages.

With village authorities now asserting greater control over security operations and fresh violence continuing to erupt, the coming days will test whether security forces can adapt to these local restrictions while maintaining order across the hills and valleys of Manipur.

A CAF jawan allegedly shot himself with his INSAS service rifle while on duty at a Kondagaon camp. Authorities are investigating the circumstances behind the incident.

A 45-year-old jawan of the Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) allegedly died by suicide after shooting himself with his service rifle inside a security camp in Chhattisgarh’s Kondagaon district late on Monday night, officials said.

The incident was reported from the Urandabeda police station limits, where the jawan was deployed as part of the 5th Battalion of the CAF. The deceased has been identified as Jogendra Netam, a resident of Badedongar area. According to officials, he had been posted at the camp around three months ago and was assigned security duties at the time of the incident.

Shot During Duty

Preliminary information suggests that Netam used his INSAS service rifle to fire at his temple while on duty. The gunshot alerted other personnel stationed in the camp, who rushed to the spot immediately.

However, by the time fellow jawans reached him, he had succumbed to his injuries. The incident triggered an immediate response from camp authorities, who informed senior security officials and the local police.

Senior Officers Reach Spot

Soon after receiving information, police officials and senior officers of the security establishment reached the camp and carried out an inspection of the scene.

Authorities conducted a preliminary examination and initiated standard legal procedures. The body was later sent for post-mortem examination, following which it is expected to be handed over to the family.

No Suicide Note Found

Investigators said no suicide note was recovered from the spot during the initial search. As a result, the exact reason behind the alleged suicide remains unclear.

Officials familiar with the investigation said all possible angles are being examined. While no conclusions have been drawn, personal stress or private issues are among the factors being looked into as part of the inquiry.

Investigation Continues

Kondagaon Superintendent of Police Pankaj Chandra said the case prima facie appears to be one of suicide. However, he noted that the circumstances leading to the incident are still under investigation.

Police teams, along with departmental authorities, are collecting information from colleagues and reviewing the jawan’s recent activities to establish a clearer picture of the events preceding the incident.

Sources said the family has been informed, and statements from those posted at the camp may form part of the ongoing investigation.

Concerns Over Personnel Wellbeing

The incident has once again drawn attention to the challenges faced by security personnel deployed in sensitive and demanding environments. While investigators have not linked the case to any specific factor, authorities are expected to examine whether personal or professional pressures played any role.

Security forces routinely conduct counselling and welfare measures for personnel, particularly those posted in remote locations. Officials indicated that a detailed inquiry report would help determine whether any additional factors contributed to the tragedy.

Similar Incident Recently Reported

The Kondagaon case comes days after another firearm-related suicide involving a security personnel was reported in neighbouring Narayanpur district. In that incident, a district force jawan allegedly shot himself with his service weapon at a camp under Kohkameta police station limits.

Officials have not indicated any connection between the two incidents. Investigations in both cases are being carried out separately.

Further details in the Kondagaon case are expected to emerge once the post-mortem report and departmental inquiry are completed.

Four CRPF Jawans Martyred in IED Blast on Chhattisgarh's Kanker-Narayanpur Border

Security forces recover Naxal dump during operation triggered by inputs from surrendered militants; blast occurs while defusing device in Koroskoda jungle.

Four personnel of the security forces lost their lives in an IED explosion on Saturday in the dense forests along the Kanker-Narayanpur border in Chhattisgarh. The incident occurred during a search operation based on specific intelligence provided by Naxals who had surrendered earlier. 

On Sunday morning, the martyrs were given a solemn guard of honour in Narayanpur and Kanker districts amid heavy hearts. Senior officials, including Bastar Inspector General of Police P. Sundarraj, elected representatives, police personnel, and grieving family members attended the ceremonies. The atmosphere was sombre as tears flowed freely among the kin. After the tributes, the mortal remains were sent to the jawans' native villages for last rites.

Operation Based on Surrendered Naxal Inputs

According to officials, the force had moved into the Koroskoda jungle in the Chhote Bethiya police station area early Saturday morning following leads from recently surrendered Naxals. The region has seen sustained operations aimed at recovering IEDs planted by Maoists over the years.

While the team was attempting to defuse an IED, the device exploded with full force. Three jawans died on the spot due to severe injuries. The fourth, identified as Parmanand Korram, was critically wounded and airlifted to Raipur for advanced treatment. He succumbed to his injuries later in the hospital, officials confirmed.

Bastar IG P. Sundarraj, while confirming the details, said the operation was part of an ongoing drive against residual Naxal infrastructure. “We have been carrying out IED recovery missions based on inputs from surrendered cadres for the past few months. A Naxal dump was also recovered during this search,” he added.

Growing Focus on IED Threat

Security sources familiar with anti-Naxal operations in Bastar region noted that IEDs left behind by retreating Maoists continue to pose a significant challenge. Even as the number of active Naxals has declined due to sustained pressure and surrenders, these hidden explosive devices remain a lethal legacy of the insurgency. Forces have intensified defusing and area sanitisation efforts in recent times.

The incident has once again highlighted the risks faced by jawans in what is often described as a long-drawn battle against Left Wing Extremism. Small teams operating in thick jungles and difficult terrain frequently encounter such threats during cordon-and-search actions.

Political Reactions Pour In

Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel reacted sharply to the incident. In a post on X, he targeted the BJP government at the Centre and in the state, saying mere political slogans about ending Naxalism would not suffice. 

“Naxals have left behind remnants of terror. We also need a campaign to free ourselves from these. This fight is collective. The only option is the complete elimination of anti-democratic forces,” Baghel stated.

The Congress leader’s remarks come at a time when the state government has been claiming significant progress in curbing Naxal violence through coordinated security and development initiatives.

Background of the Area

The Kanker-Narayanpur belt has historically been part of the Maoist-affected Bastar division. While large-scale encounters have reduced and several top leaders have either been neutralised or surrendered, sporadic incidents involving IEDs continue to claim lives. Local residents often express a mix of relief at declining Naxal dominance and anxiety over remaining explosive hazards that affect both security personnel and civilians.

Officials maintained that the current phase of operations draws heavily from intelligence gathered from those who have laid down arms. These inputs have reportedly helped in mapping old dumping grounds and supply routes used by the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist).

Families Await Answers, Forces Vow to Continue

As the bodies reached their hometowns, families of the fallen jawans grappled with sudden loss. Many of the personnel hailed from modest backgrounds and had been serving in specialised units deployed for anti-Naxal duties.

Senior police and CRPF officers have assured a thorough review of the sequence of events to further refine standard operating procedures for IED handling in hostile terrain. Operations in the region are expected to continue with heightened caution.

The martyrdom of the four jawans adds to the long list of sacrifices made by security forces in Chhattisgarh’s fight against Naxalism. While surrenders and developmental works signal a gradual shift, incidents like Saturday’s blast serve as grim reminders of the challenges that persist on the ground.