Driver flees; truck number fake, engine, chassis numbers tampered
7 AKs, M4 rifle, 3 pistols, 14 grenades among seizure
Identity of militants, outfit not ascertained; likely Pakistanis
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Dec 28: Four heavily-armed militants were gunned down by security forces in a “chance encounter” at Sidhra on outskirts of the City when they were heading to Kashmir in a truck reportedly after infiltration from the International Border in Pakistan along with a large quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives including seven AK rifles, one M4 rifle and three pistols.
Identity of the slain militants as well as their outfit couldn’t be ascertained immediately by the police as they were not carrying any identity cards or letter heads of the outfit with them but, according to some police officials, the chances are that the ultras could be Pakistanis and were heading to the Valley to cause terror strikes ahead of Republic Day. They appeared to be Jaish-e-Mohammed activists.
While number plate of the truck was fake, the engine and chassis numbers had been tampered. The truck driver also managed to escape from the spot when the vehicle was signalled to stop by the police personnel.
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Massive searches are on to nab the truck operator as his arrest could give vital leads to the police like the spot from where he picked up the militants and place in the Valley where he had to drop them. However, the possibility is that the militants crossed the International Border and boarded the already waiting truck for reaching the Valley.
The gunfight took place around 7.30 am amid dense fog near Tawi Bridge in the Sidhra bypass area along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway on outskirts of the City when police personnel on duty signalled the truck to stop. In the process, the truck driver fled away from the spot leading to more doubts.
Police personnel immediately cordoned off the truck and suspended traffic on the National Highway. Finding them surrounded, the militants came out of the truck and opened firing. In the meantime, Army personnel also reached the spot. After heavy exchange of gunfight, all four militants were killed.
There were no casualties of security personnel. Also, no loss of civilians was reported as movement had been restricted to the area. The truck caught fire during the gun battle and suffered damage as it was loaded with husk.
“Bodies of four militants have been recovered from the truck,” Additional DGP Jammu Zone Mukesh Singh, flanked by General Officer Commanding of Army’s Tiger Division, Maj Gen Gaurav Gautam, told reporters at the scene of the gunfight.
He said the interception of the militants was the result of “high alert” of security agencies following the recent recovery of arms from a truck in Narwal bypass area of Jammu.
“All the material recovered from the possession of the (slain) militants is being scrutinised and analysed. We are not aware of the group… Whether they came from across the border or not, is a matter of investigation. The only thing we can tell right now is that the truck was going from Jammu towards Srinagar side,” SSP Jammu Chandan Kohli said adding further investigations are on.
Officials added that forensic experts also visited the scene and collected samples for analysis.
“The number plate of the truck has been found to be fake. The engine and chassis number have also been tampered and help of forensic teams will be sought in this regard, the ADGP Jammu said.
A huge quantity of arms and ammunition, including seven AK-47 rifles, one M4 rifle, three pistols, 14 grenades and around Rs 50,000 in cash were recovered from the possession of the slain militants whose identity and group affiliation are not known immediately.
“The truck driver fled the scene taking advantage of foggy conditions and the gunfight. Efforts are on to nab him and also identify the truck owner,” the ADGP said.
He said a search is being conducted at Bus Stands, Railway Stations and marketplaces, while all checkpoints have also been alerted.
“Other scientific and electronic evidence is being collected to identify the terror group behind the transportation of the militants and to identify the Over Ground Workers (OGWs) support structure of the militants (in Jammu region),” Mukesh Singh said.
Referring to the arrest of three operatives of proscribed Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror outfit and recovery of a huge quantity of arms and ammunition from an oil tanker in Narwal bypass in November, he said the incident had put the security agencies on high alert.
“The Army, police and the CRPF, all of us together were on high alert (following the recovery) in the run up to the January 26 celebrations. The border grid has also been strengthened, and (security) camps have been made more secure. This is how we have been able to neutralise them,” Singh asserted.
Asked if the group was sent by Pakistan-based JeM commander Ashiq Nengroo whose house built on encroached Government land was demolished in Pulwama district recently, he said, “We are not aware of any connection of this group with Nengroo so far.”
“The group affiliation and identity of the deceased militants is awaited,” he said.
Responding to another question about any intelligence input suggesting attempts by militants to infiltrate into this side by taking advantage of foggy weather conditions, the officer said there was no specific input about the crossings from the Pakistan side.
Mukesh Singh said it was a joint operation by the Army and police after suspicious movement of the truck was noted.
“The vehicle was followed and stopped near Sidhra check point, but its driver escaped on the pretext of attending the call of nature,” he added.
Getting suspicious, Singh said police started searching the truck, but came under heavy fire from the militants hiding inside, triggering the gunfight.
Maj Gen Gautam said a clear picture would emerge after the next couple of hours and “we will be able to share more details”.
“Nothing can be said accurately about the plans of the militants. It can be a possibility and we have to remain alert to meet any challenge,” the Army officer said on increased militant activities with focus on Jammu region.
Earlier, Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh told a news agency that it is a matter of investigation as to whether the militants came from across the border and were picked by the truck driver to ferry them to Kashmir.
Officials said the intense firing between the two sides lasted for over 45 minutes during which several explosions apparently caused by hurling of grenades were heard.
Preliminary investigation suggested that the group might have infiltrated from across the border, they said.
Smoke was seen blowing from the truck, loaded with husk, and was completely damaged in the gunfight.
Several fire tenders and an earth mover were pressed into service to douse the flames and search the truck, which was kept under constant drone surveillance.
Meanwhile, traffic on the Sidhra bypass road was restored after remaining closed for over six hours.
An FIR has also been registered in connection with the encounter.
Security forces have been put on high alert across the Jammu region, particularly on the highway, after the gun battle.
The Counter Infiltration Grid has been put on high alert and security has been tightened in the region’s border areas.
Tight security arrangements have been put in place and vehicles are being checked to ensure fool-proof security in the Jammu and Kashmir winter capital, they said.
Security checkpoints on the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway have increased vigilance and vehicles, particularly trucks, are being checked, they said.
All entry points to Jammu from the border areas have been put on vigil and vehicles entering the city are being thoroughly checked.
With yet another incident of militants trying to sneak into Kashmir by hiding in a truck, security experts have batted strongly for the installation of vehicle scanners along the highways.
They were of the view that vehicle scanners would help detect the militants and consignment of arms kept inside the truck by creating cavity in the material loaded in the vehicle.
Major terror
incidents on NH
l Police had on November 10 this year busted a terror module of Jaish-e-Mohammad and arrested three operatives from the Narwal area on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, recovering arms and ammunition including three AK-56 rifles, one pistol, nine magazines and six grenades from a Kashmir-bound truck.
l On April 22 this year, police arrested two persons including the driver of a truck who had ferried militants in a truck from the International Border of village Supwal in Samba district to Sunjuwan where they carried out a terror attack in which two militants were killed and one CISF officer was martyred and four security personnel were injured.
l Four Jaish-e-Mohammed militants, who were hiding in a truck, were killed on November 17, 2020 in an encounter with security forces on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway near Nagrota in the outskirts of Jammu city.
l Three Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militants were killed on January 31, 2020 in a gun battle that broke out after a group of militants, travelling in a truck, opened fire at a police team at a toll plaza on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway on the outskirts of Jammu city.
l Three militants were killed and 12 security personnel including DySP Mohan Sharma were injured in an encounter at Jhajjar Kotli on the highway on September 12, 2018.
l Three militants were killed and four soldiers including an officer were martyred inside the Army area at Nagrota on the highway on November 29, 2016.
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