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.

Six individuals from the Naga community, missing since a violent intercommunal clash on May 13, are feared dead after six bodies were recovered Wednesday in Manipur's Kangpokpi district. The discovery has deepened the humanitarian crisis gripping the state, where ethnic violence between Naga and Kuki communities has claimed 731 lives over three years.

Hostages Gone for Nearly a Month

The six Naga men were taken hostage during a violent confrontation between Naga and Kuki groups at Leilon Vaiphei village in Kangpokpi district on May 13. Their fate had remained unknown for 27 days before the bodies were found on Wednesday during a major security operation in the area. Formal identification is still pending, and post-mortem examinations are underway at JNIMS Hospital in Kangpokpi. Police have confirmed that legal procedures are being completed and the investigation is ongoing.

As news of the recovery broke, relatives of the missing persons and representatives from several Naga civil organisations gathered at the hospital, with grief and anger running high.

Massive Search Operation Underway

Since the abduction, security forces mounted a significant search operation involving around 450 personnel from the Manipur Police, CRPF, and Assam Rifles, supported by sniffer dogs and forensic experts. The bodies were found in the course of this extended operation.

The scale of the deployment reflects the volatility on the ground — yet for many in the Naga community, it has done little to inspire confidence. Several Naga organisations have publicly accused security forces of bias and demanded an impartial investigation into the ongoing violence.

Violence Refuses to Abate

The recovery came amid fresh incidents across the state. On Monday, Kuki militant groups allegedly opened fire in Pongringlong Rongmei Naga village in Kangpokpi district. Shortly after, the body of a missing Naga Village Guard, Chunjanglung Panmei, was found in a nearby forest with a gunshot wound to the head.

In Senapati district on Wednesday, two trucks were set ablaze by unidentified miscreants. No arrests have been reported in connection with the arson.

On a more positive note, 14 Kuki individuals were handed over to authorities Tuesday with assistance from the United Naga Council — a rare instance of inter-community coordination that officials hope could build some ground-level trust.

Communities Push Back Against Security Forces

Tensions with security agencies have been mounting. On June 7, women in the Shokvao and New Haven areas of Ukhrul district blocked Assam Rifles personnel from advancing, staging protests with torches through the night.

In a more formal assertion of local authority, the Village Authority of Longjang/Thangal village in Noney district issued a notice to the State Police, Assam Rifles, and CRPF, directing that security personnel must inform village authorities before carrying out any search, patrol, raid, or arrest. The notice also called for restrictions on drone operations. The village authority cited its powers under the Manipur Hill Areas Village Authority Act, 1956, which grants it responsibility for local law and order.

Naga groups have further alleged that unidentified armed men opened fire in Ching Mamang village, injuring one person. They have accused the central government of using Kuki groups as part of what they describe as a "shadow war."

Thousands Still Displaced

Meanwhile, thousands of women from 14 civil organisations marched in a five-kilometre rally in Imphal on Monday, demanding implementation of the National Register of Citizens and the identification and deportation of illegal infiltrators.

RTI data paints a grim picture of the displacement crisis. Of 43,676 people still living in relief camps across nine districts, 731 have died over the past three years. Churachandpur recorded the highest toll at 248 deaths, followed by Bishnupur with 151 and Kangpokpi with 128 — the same district now at the centre of Wednesday's grim discovery.

With identifications still pending and grieving families waiting outside the hospital, Kangpokpi remains on edge.

Security personnel recovered three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) during a joint search operation in the forests near Todma village in Dantewada district. According to police, the operation was launched on June 6 based on intelligence inputs regarding the presence of Maoist activity in the area.

The search was carried out by personnel of the 195th Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Dantewada Police under the supervision of senior officers.

During the operation, troops noticed suspicious objects in the forest and immediately secured the area before calling in the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS).

Explosives Safely Neutralised

Bomb disposal experts examined the objects and identified three explosive devices. The Bomb Disposal Squad safely neutralised and destroyed them on the spot using standard procedures.

Police officials said the timely action prevented any possible harm to security personnel and civilians.

Arms and Material Recovered

During an extended search of the surrounding area, security forces also recovered a cache of arms-related equipment, explosive material, communication devices and other prohibited items allegedly concealed in the forest.

According to officials, the seized material was believed to have been stored for use in attacks targeting security forces and for carrying out violent activities in the region.

Authorities also recovered literature and other articles associated with Maoist groups.

Operation Ends Successfully

Police said all personnel involved in the operation returned safely to their base camp after completing the search.

Officials added that anti-Maoist operations in the Bastar region are continuing and security agencies remain alert to prevent any attempts to disrupt peace and development activities.

Continued Vigilance in Bastar

The recovery is being seen as another significant success for security forces operating in the Maoist-affected region. Authorities said intelligence-based operations will continue to target illegal stockpiles and ensure the safety of local residents.

Pulwama Mastermind Hamza Burhan Killed in PoK: Unidentified Attackers Open Fire in Muzaffarabad

UAPA-designated terrorist linked to 2019 Pulwama attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel shot dead outside AIMS College

Killed in Muzaffarabad

Hamza Burhan, a key conspirator behind the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, was shot dead by unidentified attackers in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's Muzaffarabad late on Tuesday evening. The incident took place outside AIMS College, where multiple gunshots were fired at the 23-year-old terrorist, killing him on the spot. Local sources confirmed that the attackers fled the scene immediately after the assault.

UAPA Designation Since 2022

India had officially declared Burhan a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in 2022. Originally identified as Arjumand Gulzar Dar, he was a resident of Ratnipora in Pulwama district. Government records show he had legally travelled to Pakistan before joining Al Badr, a banned terrorist organisation, where he eventually rose to become a commander.

The Pulwama Link

Investigating agencies have long believed Burhan played a significant role in orchestrating the February 14, 2019 Pulwama attack, which claimed the lives of 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel. The attack, carried out by a suicide bomber driving an explosive-laden vehicle, had pushed India-Pakistan tensions to the brink of conflict.

Travel to Pakistan

According to government documents, Burhan had initially travelled to Pakistan through legal channels. Once across the border, he reportedly established connections with multiple terror outfits and became actively involved in recruitment and funding operations. Sources familiar with the matter said he was operating from Pakistani territory for several years while maintaining ties with terror groups active in the Kashmir Valley.

Accused of Recruitment and Fundraising

Agencies had linked Burhan to several incidents, including the recovery of explosives in Pulwama, a grenade attack on CRPF personnel on November 18, 2020, and efforts to radicalise and recruit local youth into militant ranks. He was also known as a close associate of slain terrorists Abu Dujana, Abu Qasim, Burhan Wani, and Zakir Musa.

Unanswered Questions

The identity of the attackers remains unclear, and no group has claimed responsibility for the killing so far. Local authorities in PoK have not issued an official statement regarding the incident. While some analysts suggest internal rivalries among militant factions, others point to the possibility of targeted operations. Indian security establishment is closely monitoring the situation.