Three terrorists killed in encounter in Jammu, cop injured
Bann Toll Plaza (Jammu): Three terrorists were killed in a gunbattle that broke out after a group of militants, travelling in a truck, opened fire at a police team at a toll plaza on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway here on Friday, officials said.
Police said the terrorist group is suspected to have infiltrated from along the International Border (IB) in Kathua district to carry out an attack.
The group of three-four terrorists was on their way to Srinagar when the police team intercepted it at the Bann toll plaza, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbag Singh told PTI.
Bann toll plaza in Nagrota is about 28 kilometers from the Jammu city.
One of the terrorists was killed in the ensuing gunfight while the rest managed to escape to the adjacent forest area, Singh said, adding that a policeman was injured and has been hospitalised.
They are suspected to be a newly infiltrated group and were on their way to Srinagar, the DGP said. "It is suspected that they infiltrated from Hiranagar border (of Kathua district)," he added.
The Jammu-Srinagar highway was closed and traffic halted and entire forest belt was cordoned off and terrorists were intercepted, resulting in a fierce gunbattle, the officials said.
The terrorists also fired grenades, they said.
Two more terrorists were killed in the gunbattle, taking the toll to three, the DGP said, adding that one more is probably in trap.
Four weapons and large quantity of ammunition and explosives have been recovered, the DGP said. He said the terrorists might be foreigners.
IGP Jammu Zone, Mukesh Singh told reporters that the truck on its way to Kashmir was intercepted at the toll post at 5 am by a joint team of police and CRPF.
There was firing from the truck resulting in injuries to one policeman, he said. Police and CRPF jawans retaliated, killing a terrorist while the rest managed to escape towards the forest area, IGP said.
The truck driver, Maqbool, who is an over ground worker, has been arrested and is being questioned, the IGP said. The truck was carrying polyvinyl and a cavity was created inside it to hide the terrorists, officials said. The terrorists were armed with bullet-proof jackets, they said.
The officials suspect the terrorists might have planned to carry out attack at vital installations as well as security camps along the nearly 300-km highway.
Senior police officials were at the spot to oversee the combing operations. All schools and colleges have been closed in Udhampur districts as a precautionary measure.
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Road crash in UP leaves 10 dead
Lakhimpur Kheri (UP) (PTI): Ten people were killed when a van collided head-on with a truck on the Sisaiya-Lakhimpur national highway on Monday, police said.
The van was going to Sisaiya from Lakhimpur when the accident took place between Unchgaon and Bharehta villages.
Circle Officer of Dhaurahra, Shamsher Bahadur Singh, said all nine passengers travelling in the van and the driver were killed.
District Magistrate of Lakhimpur Kheri Anjani Kumar Singh told reporters that the van collided with a truck coming from the opposite direction, leading to nine casualties on the spot, while one succumbed to injuries at the district hospital.
Circle Officer, Dhaurahra, Shamsher Bahadur Singh told PTI, "Efforts are on to establish the identity of other deceased persons."
The seven of the deceased have been identified as Jaideep Singh (25), Pawan (23), Sohan (21), Ram Goyal (42), Sahajram (35), Pappu (18), all residents of Bahraich district and Adnan Khan (15), a resident of Lakhimpur Kheri district, police said.
Condoling the loss of lives in the accident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in a post on X, said, "The loss of life in the unfortunate road accident in Lakhimpur Kheri district is deeply distressing and heart-wrenching. My condolences are with the bereaved families."
"I have directed the local administration to provide prompt and adequate assistance to the injured and the victims. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant the departed souls a place at His divine feet and to bestow a speedy recovery upon the injured," Adityanath said on X.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak too condoled the loss of lives in the accident.
"The loss of lives resulting from the road accident in Lakhimpur Kheri district is deeply tragic and heart-wrenching. My deepest condolences go out to the bereaved families," Maurya said.
