Security forces avert ‘Pulwama-like attack' in JK after explosives-laden car jumps naka

Majid Jahangir and Suhail A Shah

Tribune News Service

Srinagar/Anantnag, May 28

A ‘Pulwama-like attack’ was averted by the timely action of security forces on Wednesday night here in Pulwama district.

According to police sources, the incident took place between 8.45 pm and 9.15 pm at Ayangund village.

“A naka was set up by the joint forces. While vehicles were being checked, one of them jumped the barricade and tried to flee the spot,” a police source said.

He said the vehicle did not go far and was abandoned after around 200 metres.

“Security personnel who were chasing the car found it abandoned by the roadside. On further checking of the car, it was found to be laden with explosives,” sources said.

The explosives were disposed of on Thursday morning by a bomb disposal squad. The car (a Santro) had a fake number plate.

Sources told The Tribune that the case would be handed over to the National Investigation Agency.

Police are yet to issue an official statement.

As many as 40 CRPF men were killed on February 14 last year after a similar car bomb was used by militants in Lethpora area of the district. The attack is referred to as the Pulwama attack. The gruesome attack had brought India and Pakistan to the brink of a war.

Later, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said the militants driving the car jumped two nakas and abandoned it at Ayegund area of Rajpora.

“After preliminary investigation, it was found the vehicle was laden with at least 40 kg to 45 kg of explosive material. The vehicle went up 15 metres when the IED was defused,” Kumar said in a press conference in Srinagar.

“The militants were planning the suicide attack on Jang-e-Badr (May 11), but couldn’t do it due to the intensified operations against militants,” he said.

The IGP said a local militant, Adil, who works for Hizb and Jaish and two others, had planned to carry out an attack with the explosives- laden car.