Shopian July 8: In a major breakthrough for security forces operating in South Kashmir, a top commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba was killed during a fresh exchange of fire in the Chanapora area of Shopian district, where a large-scale counter-terror operation is continuing under a joint security framework led by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, 44 Rashtriya Rifles, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
The operation, which has been underway for several days, was launched following credible intelligence inputs regarding the presence of heavily armed terrorists in the area. Acting swiftly on the information, joint teams of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, 44 Rashtriya Rifles, and CRPF established a tight cordon around the suspected hideout and initiated extensive search operations.
As the search operation progressed, terrorists opened fire on the advancing troops, triggering a fierce gunfight. During the exchange, a top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander was successfully neutralized by the joint forces. Security officials described the killing as a significant setback to the terror outfit’s operational network in South Kashmir.
Sources said that following the killing of the militant commander, security forces further intensified the operation amid indications that another terrorist may still be hiding within the area. In response, the Jammu and Kashmir Police, 44 Rashtriya Rifles, and CRPF expanded the search operation beyond Chanapora to adjoining localities and vulnerable pockets.
The role of 44 Rashtriya Rifles has been particularly crucial throughout the operation, with troops maintaining a relentless vigil and conducting systematic searches across difficult terrain, orchards, residential clusters, and other suspected locations. Teams of 44 Rashtriya Rifles have been working round the clock in close coordination with police and CRPF personnel to ensure that no terrorist escapes the security dragnet.
Officials said that additional columns of 44 Rashtriya Rifles have been deployed to strengthen the outer and inner cordons, while surveillance measures have been enhanced to monitor every possible escape route. Advanced operational tactics, ground domination exercises, and area sanitization drives are also being carried out by 44 Rashtriya Rifles and other security agencies as part of the ongoing mission.
The operation has now expanded into a comprehensive search and surveillance exercise, with security personnel conducting door-to-door verification, area domination patrols, and intensive searches in nearby locations. According to sources, the possibility of another terrorist hiding in the area cannot be ruled out, prompting forces to continue the operation with heightened alertness.
The successful elimination of the Lashkar-e-Taiba commander reflects the strong synergy between the Jammu and Kashmir Police, 44 Rashtriya Rifles, and CRPF in tackling terrorism and maintaining peace in the region. Security experts believe that the operation has dealt a major blow to the militant ecosystem and has disrupted plans aimed at reviving terrorist activities in the district.
Meanwhile, residents have been advised to cooperate with the security agencies as the operation continues. Officials have reiterated that the primary objective remains the complete neutralization of any remaining terrorist presence and the recovery of arms, ammunition, and other incriminating material.
With 44 Rashtriya Rifles, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF maintaining a tight security grid across the area, the operation remains in progress. Further details are expected to emerge once the search operation is concluded and the final assessment of the encounter is completed.
The killing of the top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander is being regarded as one of the most significant counter-terror successes in Shopian in recent times, highlighting the sustained efforts of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, 44 Rashtriya Rifles, and CRPF in ensuring security and stability across South Kashmir.
