Security forces on Wednesday averted a possible terror attack when they gunned down four Kashmir-bound heavily armed terrorists, hiding inside a truck cavity,  near Sidhra bridge  in the close vicinity of White Knight Corps headquarters in Nagrota area.

The security forces suffered no collateral damage during the operation which lasted around two hours.

On December 6, 2022 a grenade blast was also reported at the same spot. Soon after the encounter started in the area around 7.30 am, traffic on the sensitive route was suspended. Large number of passengers were  stranded on the highway at different locations during the encounter.

Additional DGP Mukesh Singh, who visited the encounter site, said, “Four terrorists were killed in an encounter in Sidhra in Jammu on Wednesday morning”.

During the heavy exchange of fire,  the truck also caught fire. The bodies of the terrorists were charred beyond recognition.

The security forces had to deploy a fire extinguisher to douse the flames before recovering the dead bodies of these terrorists. 

The ADGP said the security forces have also recovered 07 AK-47 rifles, one M4 rifle ,03 Pistols along with other ammunition. “Truck owner is yet to be identified,” he added.

According to police, all four heavily armed terrorists were travelling in a Kashmir-bound truck when they were intercepted at Sidhra security checkpoint.  It was not clear whether these terrorists were tasked to hit any vital installations along the route or were being escorted to their destination in the Kashmir valley.

ADGP Mukesh Singh said, “Today, at around 7:25 am, suspicious movement of a truck was observed on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in the Sidhra area. This truck was intercepted by a joint team of Police and Army at Sidhra check point. During checking of the vehicle, the hiding terrorists fired upon the security forces and an encounter started. Taking advantage, the driver of the truck fled away from the spot”.

Sharing more details, the ADGP  said, “The number plate of the truck has been found to be fake. The engine and chassis number has also been tampered and help of forensic teams will be sought in this regard”. A manhunt has been launched to apprehend the driver.  Search is being done at Bus stands, railway stations and market places. All security checkpoints have been alerted to trace the whereabouts of the truck driver.

Singh added the scrutiny of seized items is being done to obtain clues about the identity of the killed terrorists and the driver. Other scientific and electronic evidence is being collected to identify the terror group to which the terrorists belonged and to identify the OGW support structure of these terrorists.

A FIR has been registered in this regard and investigation started.

Preliminary information gathered by the police said the terrorists may have possibly infiltrated from across the International border with Pakistan and were being escorted in a Kashmir bound truck to their destination.

CHRONOLOGY OF PREVIOUS ATTACKS ON THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY

 Nagrota Army Camp attacked on 29 November 2016.-

 Sunjuwan Army Camp attacked on 10 February 2018.-

 Jhajjar Kotli  on 12 September 2018, three terrorists killed.-

 Ban Toll Plaza, Nagrota on 31 January 2020, three terrorists killed.-

 Tunnel discovered by BSF at Samba, Near Basantar River on 28 August 2020-

  Ban Toll Plaza attack Four JeM terrorists eliminated on 19 November 2020-