The Army on Saturday morning said that two terrorists had been eliminated by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara under Operation GUGALDHAR.

Issuing a statement, the army said that two terrorists have been eliminated by the security forces in the ongoing Operation GUGALDHAR. It added that a war-like stores have been recovered, and a search of the area is underway. It further stated that the operation is in progress.

The army also said the troops spotted suspicious activity and challenged the terrorists, leading to an exchange of fire. Sources stated that during the operation, the joint team observed some movement in the area and challenged the militants, who opened indiscriminate fire.

Taking to X, the Army’s Valley based Chinar Corps stated that on October 4, 2024, based on intelligence about an infiltration attempt, a joint operation by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police was launched at Gugaldhar, Kupwara. It added that alert troops spotted suspicious activity and challenged, leading to an exchange of firing with terrorists. It further mentioned that vigilant troops carried out effective fire, and that the operation is in progress.

Earlier on Saturday, the army said that security forces foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district. The operation is still underway and is being led by a joint team of the Jammu and Kashmir police and the army.

Two army personnel on Friday were injured in a landmine blast near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara. The officials stated that in the wee hours, during patrolling at Googaldara near LoC in Trehgam area of north Kashmir district, two army personnel got injured in a landmine blast. The two personnel were admitted to the army hospital at Drugmulla, and their condition was stable.

Haryana registered a voter turnout of 22.7 per cent as of 11 am as the state votes to elect 90 legislators in a single-phase Assembly election on Saturday. The voting commenced at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm as the ruling BJP is aiming a hattrick of Assembly Election wins, while the Congress is hoping to return to power after 10 years.  

After four hours of voting, Palwal registered the highest turnout of 27.94%, followed by Jind at 27.20% and Ambala at 25.50%. Meanwhile, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Hisar and Jhajjar recorded lower turnout rates at 20.39%, 17.05%, 24.69% and 23.48% respectively.

Nearly 1,031 candidates in 90 constituencies are voting across 20,632 polling booths. Nearly 20.35 million voters, including more than 1.07 million males, 960,000 females, and 467 third-gender voters are eligible to cast their votes. 

Reportedly, 29,462 police personnel, 21,196 home guards and 10,403 Special Police Officers have been deployed across the state to ensure a smooth voting process. The JJP-ASP alliance is contesting all the seats, with JJP fielding candidates in 70 constituencies and ASP in 20.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday appealed to the people of the state to exercise their voting rights to set a new record. Taking to social media platform, X, he asked all the voters to be a part of this holy festival of democracy and set a new record of voting. He further extended his best wishes to all the young voters of the state who are going to vote for the first time. 

Earlier in the 2019 elections, the BJP won 40 seats and formed a coalition government with JJP, which secured 10 seats. Nonetheless, JJP later left the coalition. The counting of votes for Haryana will be announced on October 8.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday alleged that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government’s skill development cooperation is facilitating the recruitment of about 15,000 Indian workers in Israel in the West Asia war.

The Congress chief claimed that earlier youth from the country were duped by dubious agents for going to the Russia-Ukraine war and many lost their lives too.

“It speaks volumes about the Joblessness induced by the anti-youth policies of the Modi Government,” he said in a social media post on X.

Kharge said that the fact that young unskilled, semi-skilled and educated youth are willing to risk their lives and serve in war-ridden theatres, at reportedly high salaries, “tells you that PM Modi’s lofty claims on Jobs are nothing but fake retorts to hide his own failures”.

“Youth of Haryana who are forced to seek jobs in these conflict zones will teach a befitting lesson to the BJP, tomorrow,” the 82-year-old leader said.

“None less than Modi Government’s National Skill Development Cooperation is facilitating the recruitment of about 15,000 Indian workers in Israel, amidst the war in West Asia,” senior Congress leader alleged.

The Congress leader’s remarks were made a day before the Haryana Assembly elections, where his party aims to regain power from the BJP after a decade.