An army jawan was injured on Monday after terrorists fired from a stand-off distance near the Sunjawan military camp, the largest army base in Jammu on Monday morning. Defence spokesperson Lt Col Suneel Bartwal said that the fire was launched from a distance between 10 to 10:30 am.

Reportedly, the army base has been sealed for any movement, and a search operation has been initiated.

Notably in February 2018, JeM terrorists had attacked the Sunjawan military camp in Jammu, which led to the killing of six soldiers, a civilian, and three terrorists. Nearly 20 people, including soldiers and civilians, were also injured in the attack.

Reports stated that the attack near the army base camp comes a few days after the security forces shot dead three terrorists in two separate gunfights in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district. While two terrorists were killed in Machhal, another was killed in the Tangdhar sector.

Additionally, in neighbouring Jammu, another encounter broke out in Rajouri district after forces launched a search operation to locate the terrorists hiding in the Lathi area. The operation was launched in the general area of the village Kheri Mohra Lathi and Danthal area at 9:30 pm.

The infiltration attempts occurred at a time when Jammu and Kashmir is set to go to the assembly polls, and nominations for the first phase have already been filed. As per the Election Commission of India, the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections will be held in three phases: September 18, September 25, and October 1. The counting of the votes will take place on October 4.

Jammu and Kashmir has seen several encounters this year, prompting the country’s administrative and defence brass to assess the security situation in the region. Nearly, five personnel and seven civilians have died in terror attacks in Kashmir, while 14 security personnel and 11 civilians have died in separate extremist attacks in Jammu.

Amanatullah Khan, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday after six hours of questioning in connection with a money laundering probe linked to the Delhi Waqf Board case.

The ED officials arrived at Amanatullah Khan’s home in Okhla, the constituency he represents in the Delhi Assembly, early this morning. The AAP MLA, who is facing charges related to illegal recruitment and financial misconduct during his tenure as the chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board, had taken to X and said that ED had just arrived at his house to arrest him.

As the investigation agency team conducted their search, a large contingent of Delhi Police and paramilitary forces was stationed outside Khan’s home. Visuals from the scene showed officers reviewing documents and materials, with heavy security on the roads leading to his residence.

Responding to the ED raid, AAP MLA Khan posted a video on social media, accusing the government of targeting him and other AAP leaders. He stated that on the order of the dictator, his puppet ED has reached my house. He continued that the dictator is leaving no stone unturned to harass him and AAP leaders. 

Simultaneously, AAP leaders quickly rallied behind Amanatullah Khan, condemning the ED’s actions and claiming that the leader would be arrested. AAP MP Sanjay Singh took to X and alleged that Khan was being targeted due to the BJP’s political vendetta.

Furthermore, former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who was recently released on bail in the liquor policy case, tweeted that the only work left for ED is to suppress every voice raised against BJP and break it. 

Notably, the ED’s case against Khan is based on allegations that he illegally recruited staff and unfairly leased Waqf Board properties between 2018 and 2022, resulting in financial gains through illegitimate means.

The investigation agency has earlier questioned Khan for more than 12 hours in connection with the case and has claimed that he acquired huge proceeds of crime in cash through these illegal activities. It further alleged that Khan invested these proceeds in purchasing immovable assets in the name of his associates.

Previously, the Delhi High Court refused to grant Khan anticipatory bail in March, mentioning his repeated evasion of summons from investigating agencies. The Supreme Court had also denied him protection from arrest.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday accused the BJP of kidnapping its councillor Ram Chander, with the saffron party denying the charges even as the abducted member returned to his residence.

Upon his return, Chander alleged that he was threatened with being implicated in ED-CBI cases by the Opposing party in Delhi.

Ram Chander, who is a councillor from Ward No 28, was one of the five members who joined the BJP last Sunday. However, a few days later, he had a change of heart after he saw Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in his dream and returned to AAP, Chander said.

In a video message, he mentioned being escorted to the BJP headquarters by certain individuals, where they allegedly threatened him with legal consequences.

In response to the allegations, the Delhi BJP spokesperson criticised the AAP leaders for what he termed as falsehoods and sensationalism, claiming that Chander was safely at home despite the allegations.

Chander boldly declared his lack of fear towards the ED and CBI, asserting his loyalty to Arvind Kejriwal in a video posted by AAP.

Furthermore, a video shared by AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh featured Chander’s son, Akash, expressing concerns about his father’s alleged abduction.

Akash recounted the incident where his father was reportedly taken away by individuals issuing threats related to ED-CBI involvement. The AAP leadership, including Manish Sisodia, echoed Akash’s statements in response to Singh’s post.

 Additionally, AAP MLA and MCD in-charge Durgesh Pathak accused the BJP of disregarding law and order in Delhi, insinuating a forcible taking of Ram Chander by individuals connected to the BJP.

Pathak further warned of escalating actions if Chander was not returned within a specified time frame.  As the zonal ward committee elections approached, both AAP and BJP laid claim to potential defections and switches of party allegiance among councillors.