4 militants killed in Sidhra encounter

Jammu, Dec 28: Four heavily armed militants were killed in an encounter after security forces intercepted a Kashmir-bound truck they were travelling-in on the highway town at Sidhra on Jammu outskirts on Wednesday.
War likes stores including seven AK 47 rifles, one M4 carbine, and three pistols including hand grenades and other material were also recovered from the encounter site.
“Bodies of four terrorists have been recovered from the truck. Seven AK assault rifles, one M4 rifle, three pistols and a large quantity of ammunition were also seized from their possession,” said Mukesh Singh, Additional Director General of police Jammu.
He said: “An encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists at around 7.25 am near check post at Sidhra, amid intense fog near Tawi Bridge along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, when the police party tried to intercept at Kashmir bound truck coming in suspicious circumstances.”
A police official said that there was an input about unusual movement of a truck on the highway. “An alert was sounded and police party at Sidhra post tried to stop the truck. After being challenged, the driver managed to flee away and the terrorists hiding inside fired at security forces. Retaliatory firing was done,” he said.
The residents of Sidhara area woke up to the sounds of five to six grenade blasts followed by a heavy exchange of fire.
The joint operation was carried out by army, CRPF and J&K. Police said that the intense firing from both sides continued for about an hour in which the truck caught fire and later the fire tenders pressed in to douse the fire.
“After the sanitization of the spot, security forces recovered four bodies of the terrorists along with seven AK 47 rifles, three pistols and other incriminated materials,” the police official said.
Moreover, General Officer Commanding of Army’s Tiger Division, Major General Gaurav Gautam told reporters that the interception of the terrorists was the result of “high alert” of security agencies.
“All the material recovered from the possession of the (slain) terrorists is being scrutinised and analysed. We are not aware of the group… whether they came from across the border or not, is a matter of investigation. The only thing we can tell right now is that the truck was going from Jammu towards Srinagar side,” the senior army officer said.
He added as of now the threat have been successfully naturalized in a joint operation, which out any collateral damage.
“At this juncture I can’t able to tell more but four terrorists have been killed in a joint operation,” an army officer said, adding “seven AK 47 rifles and thee pistols have been recovered from the spot.”
He said that more details about the association of terrorist and their plans is part of investigation and will be shared at appropriate time.