National Highway closed after 3 militants killed in encounter in Nagrota area

Jammu/New Delhi, Jan 31 (HS): Three militant were killed and one policeman seriously injured on Friday early in the morning, in an encounter that took place between police and the militants in Nagrota area on Jammu and Kashmir National Highway.

The police have recovered sophisticated arms and ammunition from the possession of the militants killed.

Meanwhile, the National Highway has been closed after the incident and the district collector of Udhampur has ordered that the schools of Udhampur city, Tikri, Mand, National Highway area and Chenani area would remain closed on Friday as precautionary measures.

The sources said that the incident took place early in the morning when some militants attacked the police at Baan toll plaza on Jammu-Srinagar highway. The force also retaliated and gunned down one of the militants. but others managed to escape from the scene.

These militants were travelling in a truck well equipped with sophisticated weapons. As the truck reached the toll plaza, the militants opened fire on the police force posted there.

Immediately after the incident, the forces cordoned off the entire area and have launched a man hunt to nab the other militants.

The Director General of Jammu and Kashmir police Dilbagh Singh has confirmed the killing of one militant in the encounter. Singh said that the other militants managed to escape from the spot. He further said that a search operation has been started to nab these terrorists.

Dilbagh Singh said that these militants were going to Srinagar and suspected to have infiltrated throung Kathua region (Hira Nagar Border).

According to the Inspector General of Police (IG) Mukesh Singh, the police stopped a truck that was approaching the Baan toll plaza during regular checking. As the truck was stopped, the militants opened indiscriminate fire on the police force deployed there. The police also retaliated and gunned down three militants in the encounter.

He said that at least four more militants are suspected to be hiding in the area. The area has been cordoned off and search operations are on. The truck driver’s name is Mohammad Maqbool Wani and he hails from Anantnag.