Four militants were killed in a shootout with security forces in Jammu’s Sidra on Wednesday morning. The militants were reportedly travelling in a truck to Kashmir after infiltrating from Pakistan.
Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Jammu zone, Mukesh Singh told reporters that the gunfight happened around 7.30 am amid intense fog near Tawi Bridge in the Sidhra bypass area along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway. "Seven AK assault rifles, one M4 rifle, three pistols and a large quantity of ammunition were recovered from the slain men," he added.
Security forces launched the operation after receiving a tip-off that the militants were in the area. A search operation was launched which resulted in an encounter between the militants and security forces.
"A suspicious movement of a truck, that was moving towards Kashmir, was observed. It was followed and stopped near Sidhra checkpoint, but its driver escaped on the pretext of attending the call of nature," the ADGP said.
Police then started searching the truck but came under heavy fire from inside. The truck then caught fire following which the militants were killed.
According to the ADGP, efforts are on to nab the driver of the truck, who has fled. "The identity and group affiliation of the militants are awaited," the ADGP said.
On whether the militants came from across the border and were picked by the truck driver to ferry them to Kashmir, he said it is a matter of investigation.
Police sources said the intense firing between the two sides lasted for over 45 minutes during which explosions caused by the hurling of grenades were heard. The truck loaded with husk was completely damaged in the gun fight.
This comes as Congress general secretary organisation K C Venugopal, AICC in-charge for Jammu and Kashmir Rajani Patil, and party leaders Vikar Rasool Wani and Ghulam Ahmad Mir met J&K L-G Manoj Sinha and sought the administration's cooperation for the Bharat Jodo Yatra.
The yatra will reach Jammu by the end of January. Senior National Congress leaders Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, PDP leader Mehboba Mufti and CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami have accepted the Congress invitation to join the yatra.
(With inputs from PTI)
