A suspicious vehicle that breached a security barricade on the Jammu-Srinagar highway in Ramban district was found abandoned on Friday, but its occupants had fled from the spot, officials said. The incident triggered a security alert on the strategic highway, which is being used by pilgrims travelling for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra.
The Mahindra Scorpio SUV, bearing registration number JK02AK-1743, crossed a security checkpoint at Chanderkote around 3.30 am and sped towards Nashri despite repeated warnings from security personnel. Officials said three warning shots were fired after the vehicle failed to stop, but the occupants continued to flee.
The abandoned vehicle was later recovered near Dalwas, where security forces found that the occupants had left the SUV and escaped into nearby forest areas. Joint teams of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Army have launched a search operation to trace the individuals.
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Officials suspect that the vehicle may have been involved in bovine smuggling, as animal dung was reportedly found inside the SUV during the investigation. Authorities are examining the circumstances surrounding the breach and are working to determine the exact motive behind the incident.
The security breach has raised concerns due to its timing amid the ongoing Amarnath Yatra, which has led to increased security arrangements across Jammu and Kashmir. Security agencies have intensified checks and monitoring along important routes used by pilgrims and civilians.
Meanwhile, the Amarnath Yatra resumed from Jammu on Thursday after remaining suspended for a day due to heightened security measures. A fresh batch of 1,801 pilgrims departed from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp for the cave shrine in south Kashmir under strict security arrangements.
The latest batch included 1,347 men, 351 women, 89 sadhus and 14 sadhvis, who travelled in 74 vehicles towards the Baltal base camp. More than 4.71 lakh pilgrims have offered prayers at the Amarnath cave shrine so far, with the 57-day pilgrimage scheduled to conclude on August 28 on the occasion of Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.
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