A fierce gunfight erupted on Thursday morning between security forces and militants in the Lathi area of Rajouri district, Jammu and Kashmir. The encounter began early in the day, with reports indicating that 2-3 terrorists are trapped in the area. The forces quickly secured the region, initiating a tight cordon.
In a related development, another infiltration attempt was thwarted in the Machil sector of Kupwara. Around 7:40 PM, security forces detected the movement of infiltrating militants, leading to an immediate engagement that resulted in a firefight.
Currently, two separate operations are ongoing in the district. Earlier, an exchange of gunfire took place between security forces and militants in Kupwara’s Tanghdar area.
Amid the surge in terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir, regional political parties are urging the Election Commission of India (ECI) to proceed with the J&K Assembly polls as scheduled. In response, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar asserted that no internal or external force could prevent the ECI from conducting the elections.
During a press briefing in Jammu, the ECI chief emphasized the importance of moving forward despite the challenges. He reassured the public that the elections would not be derailed by any disruptive forces, drawing on a “chicken-and-egg” analogy to highlight the need to confront challenges head-on rather than retreating in the face of adversity.
Jammu and Kashmir has been without an elected government for over six years, with the last Assembly elections held in December 2014. The Supreme Court has set a deadline of September 30 for the Election Commission to organize the Assembly elections in the region. This follows the revocation of the region’s special status under Article 370 and its reorganization into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019.
