A joint anti-terror operation in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir entered its second day on Sunday, July 5, 2026, as security forces resumed search operations in Chanpora where two suspected militants are believed to be holed up inside a residential house. The encounter began on Saturday evening, July 4, after coordinated action by security personnel based on intelligence about the presence of militants; the initial gunfight was reported to have started at about 7:45 PM.
Units of the Indian Army — including 44, 20, 34 and 55 Rashtriya Rifles — are operating alongside the Central Reserve Police Force’s 14 and 178 battalions and the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG). Security agencies have imposed a tight cordon around the area and deployed large numbers of personnel as they work to neutralise the threat while seeking to protect civilians.
Media reports, including one from India Today, have claimed that the two militants have been killed, but there has been no official confirmation from security forces. The news agency IANS reported that search operations, which were suspended overnight for operational reasons, resumed on Sunday morning. Officials have not yet issued a final statement on the outcome.
One of the militants is believed to be Zakir Ahmad Ganie, suspected to be an operative of Lashkar-e-Taiba and a resident of Kulgam district. Indian authorities classify Ganie as an A++ category terrorist; a National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Kulgam declared him a proclaimed offender in October 2025. The second individual has been named by India Today as Latif Bhatt, though that identity also remains unverified by security forces.
Investigators say they recently obtained CCTV footage reportedly showing Ganie with another unidentified militant in the Shopian area and used that footage, along with other intelligence inputs, to corroborate their information before launching the operation. The encounter is ongoing and security personnel continue methodical search and clearance operations in the secured area.
Original Source: https://www.firstpost.com/india/massive-anti-terror-operation-underway-in-kashmirs-shopian-two-terrorists-trapped-14028929.html
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Publish Date: 2026-07-05 07:37:00
