Jammu, Aug 7 (IANS) A suspicious vehicle on Friday jumped a security barricade and fled despite warning shots fired by the security forces, raising alarm on the strategic Jammu-Srinagar highway being used by Amarnath Yatra pilgrims.
A four-wheeler vehicle evaded a police checkpoint at Chanderkote on the Jammu-Srinagar highway in Ramban while travelling from Srinagar to Jammu, prompting security forces to launch a search operation. Officials said police personnel signalled the vehicle to stop at a security check in Chanderkote.
However, the driver ignored the signals and accelerated towards Nashri. Police fired three rounds in an attempt to stop the vehicle, but the driver managed to flee from the area.
Following the incident, police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Army launched a joint search operation to trace the vehicle and identify those travelling in it. This highway is also used by convoys carrying devotees to and from the Valley.
Security forces are conducting searches in the area and surrounding routes as part of efforts to locate the vehicle.
More details are awaited.
The incident has heightened security concerns for pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir embarking on the ongoing Amarnath Yatra, with the Ramban district a crucial route for the pilgrimage.
The yatra resumed from Jammu on Thursday after remaining suspended for a day amid heightened security arrangements on the seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370. A batch of 1,801 pilgrims departed from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp early Thursday for the cave shrine of Amarnath in South Kashmir.
Officials said the 28th batch left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas at around 2:45 a.m. for the Baltal base camp under tight security. However, no convoy was dispatched along the Pahalgam route.
The latest batch comprised 1,347 men, 351 women, 89 sadhus and 14 sadhvis, who travelled in 74 vehicles.
Meanwhile, more than 4.71 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the cave shrine so far.
The 57-day Yatra will conclude on August 28, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan festivals.
–IANS
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