Three terrorists killed in 'chance encounter' in Jammu
Jammu (PTI): At least three terrorists, travelling in a truck to Kashmir, were killed in a "chance encounter" with security forces here early Wednesday morning, a police officer said.
Additional Director General of Police, Jammu zone, Mukesh Singh said the gunfight took place around 7.30 am amid intense fog near Tawi Bridge in the Sidhra bypass area along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway.
"A suspicious movement of a truck, that was moving towards Kashmir, was observed. It was followed and stopped near Sidhra check point but its driver escaped on the pretext of attending the call of nature," the ADGP told reporters at the scene of the gunbattle.
Getting suspicious, Singh said, police started searching the truck but came under heavy fire from inside.
An encounter ensued during which the truck caught fire, he said, adding the terrorists, believed to be three in number, were killed.
"The clear picture will emerge once the truck is searched," the ADGP said, adding it is part of the investigation where from the terrorists had infiltrated.
He said the ultras were heavily armed and were on their way to Kashmir when they were intercepted.
He said efforts are on to nab the driver of the truck, who has fled.
"The identity and group affiliation of the terrorists is awaited," the ADGP said.
Talking to PTI, Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh said so far three terrorists have been killed. "The number could be more," he added.
Asked whether the terrorists came from across the border and were picked by the truck driver to ferry them to Kashmir, he said it is matter of investigation.
Officials said the intense firing between the two sides lasted for over 45 minutes, during which several explosions apparently caused by hurling of grenades, were also heard.
Smoke was seen blowing from the truck, loaded with husk, and was completely damaged in the gunfight.
J&K | Visuals from Sidhra area of Jammu where an encounter took place.
— ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2022
(Visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/6EkijnUuyl
WATCH: #BNNIndia Reports.
— Gurbaksh Singh Chahal (@gchahal) December 28, 2022
Three terrorists were killed during a brief encounter with security forces on Wednesday in Jammu and Kashmir's #Sidhra.
According to the J-K ADGP, terrorists were in a truck when an exchange of fire occurred.#India #Terrorist #Defence pic.twitter.com/erOgnqbGVX
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
