india

Updated: Jan 31, 2020 20:04 IST

At least three terrorists travelling in a truck towards Srinagar were killed in a gunfight with security forces at a toll plaza in Nagrota near Jammu on Friday, officials said.

A policeman was also injured after the terrorists opened fire at the security team when the truck was stopped around 5am for a security check at the Ban toll plaza on Jammu-Srinagar highway.

“One terrorist was killed in the morning. Two others have been neutralised in the adjoining forest area. Their bodies are being brought up to the road,” J&K director general of police Dilbagh Singh said while speaking to HT.

“Four to five terrorists were believed to be in the truck. It is suspected that they might have infiltrated from Hiranagar sector in Kathua district,” he said.

The injured policeman has been shifted to a hospital.

Inspector general of police (Jammu Zone) Mukesh Singh said an AK 47 assault rifle, magazines and grenades were recovered from the truck.

“We have arrested a truck helper. The terrorists are most likely foreigners, who were being helped by locals,” he said.

A spokesperson of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had said earlier that security personnel immediately took the position after the firing and a cordon and search operation was launched, he said.

“We have a joint post of CRPF and J&K police at the toll post,” Shivnandan said.

The spokesperson said that additional reinforcements have been sent to the spot and traffic movement has been suspended on the highway.

Authorities have also ordered the closure of all schools and colleges in Udhampur zone following the gun battle between security forces and terrorists.

This is the first terror attack in Jammu since Article 370, which granted special status to the former state of Jammu and Kashmir, was revoked on August 5 last year.

Nagrota is an Indian Army cantonment where seven soldiers, including two officers, were killed in November 2016 when terrorists dressed as policemen stormed a military camp.