Pulwama-like terror attack averted as security forces in Kashmir find IED-laden car

Pulwama like terror attack

Jammu and Kashmir: Pulwama-like terror attack averted as security forces intercepted a car carrying IED and prevented a bomb blast in Pulwama on Thursday. The driver of the white Santro, is reported to have escaped.

A major incident of a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Pulwama was averted by the Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, on Thursday morning. They intercepted an explosive-laden vehicle in the district.

Following an input that a terrorist was moving with an explosive-laden car in Pulwama district ready to blast at a location, a joint team of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Army and the CRPF swing into action on Wednesday night

The security forces intercepted a white Hyundai Santro car, based on intelligence inputs. The security forces intercepted the vehicle in Rajpora of Pulwama and fired a few rounds late Wednesday night. The driver of the car, however, abandoned the vehicle and escaped after an initial gunfight.

“We had an intercept of a terrorist. When car was intercepted after an initial exchange of fire, the terrorist escaped under cover of darkness,” DG, JKP, Dilbag Singh said.

The vehicle was kept under vigil for the night and meanwhile, nearby villages were evacuated. The security forces called in bomb disposal squad and the vehicle was exploded, on Thursday morning sources said.

The car had a fake number plate. The explosives were kept in a blue drum of the car.  The car was registered in the name of a two-wheeler owner, registered in Kathua, sources said.

Giving details, the CRPF said the incident took place in Ayangund area of Rajpora in Pulwama.

Personnel of the CRPF, SOG and Army’s 44 RR launched a cordon and search operation (CASO) and found huge quantity of explosives in the white Hyndai Santro car.

The incident has similarities to the February-2019 terror attack in Pulwama in which killed 40 CRPF soldiers were killed following IED blast in car, driven by Adil ahmed Dar, a Jaish terrorist.

A similar attempt of exploding an IED was foiled in Banihal in which Hizbul Mujahideen terror module was said to be involved, in April last year.

Both cases of terror conspiracy are being investigated by the NIA. With terror link suspected to be from Pakistan-backed Lashkar, the latest incident is also likely to be handed over to NIA.

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