SUV Traced After Police Firing at Chanderkote Checkpoint in Ramban
SUV Traced After Police Firing at Chanderkote Checkpoint in Ramban
Vehicle intercepted after allegedly bypassing naka; joint forces launch search operation
A Scorpio vehicle that allegedly failed to stop at a police checkpoint on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Ramban district was later traced after police opened fire at it, while the occupants abandoned the vehicle and escaped, officials said.
The incident occurred early Friday near the Chanderkote naka point close to JP Gate, when the vehicle was travelling from Srinagar towards Jammu.
Officials said police personnel signalled the driver to stop several times, but the vehicle allegedly continued moving, prompting the personnel to fire three rounds as a precautionary measure.
The Scorpio then sped away towards Nashri. It was subsequently traced by the authorities, but those travelling in the vehicle had already fled from the spot.
Police, CRPF and Army personnel have launched a joint search operation to locate the escaped occupants.
Further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is underway.
SUV defies security barricade, flees despite warning shots in J&K Ramban
A suspicious Scorpio vehicle evaded a police checkpoint at Chanderkote in Ramban district early Friday while travelling from Srinagar towards Jammu, prompting security forces to launch a search operation.
According to officials, police personnel signalled the vehicle to stop at a security check in Chanderkote. However, the driver allegedly ignored the signals and accelerated towards Nashri.
Police fired three rounds in an attempt to stop the vehicle, but the driver managed to flee from the area.
Following the incident, police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Army launched a joint search operation to trace the vehicle and identify those travelling in it.
Security scare amid ongoing Amarnath Yatra
Security forces are conducting searches in the area and surrounding routes as part of efforts to locate the Scorpio. The incident has heightened security concerns for pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir embarking on the ongoing Amarnath Yatra, with the Ramban district a crucial route for the pilgrimage.
The yatra resumed from Jammu on Thursday after remaining suspended for a day amid heightened security arrangements on the seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370. A batch of 1,801 pilgrims departed from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp early Thursday for the cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir.
Officials said the 28th batch left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas at around 2:45 am for the Baltal base camp under tight security. However, no convoy was dispatched along the Pahalgam route.
The latest batch comprised 1,347 men, 351 women, 89 sadhus and 14 sadhvis, who travelled in 74 vehicles.
With the departure of this batch, the total number of pilgrims who have left Jammu for the annual pilgrimage this year has reached 1,43,513, officials said.
Meanwhile, more than 4.71 lakh pilgrims have so far paid obeisance at the Ice Lingam of Lord Shiva inside the 3,880-metre-high Amarnath cave shrine.
The 57-day annual pilgrimage is scheduled to conclude on August 28