Security forces foiled a major mishap on Monday by defusing an IED that was planted by terrorists on the vital Jammu-Poonch highway to target Army convoys moving towards areas along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK).
According to Rajouri district police chief Yougal Manhas, the IED was planted in Kallar Chowk area along the highway in Rajouri district. It was spotted early in the morning by Army’s Road Opening Party (ROP).
During patrolling, Army jawans of the ROP saw something suspicious lying along the highway near Kallar Chowk, and during close examination, a bottle filled with a liquid and a polybag filled with some solid material was found. The ROP flashed an alert and soon a team of police also reached on the spot and closed the highway for traffic.
Senior Army and police officers also reached the spot along with the Army’s bomb disposal squad, which after an hour-long exercise destroyed the IED.
The police have initiated investigation into the incident.
The attempt to target an Army convoy has come close on the heels of the terror attacks on CRPF convoys at Pulwama and Banihal.
The highway is strategically important as it is the main artery connecting the Line of Control in the Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu.
Reports of terrorists trying to revive their activities in the Jammu region have been coming in. An IED was recently found planted outside the airport at Jammu. The Army had recently recovered four AK47 assault rifles and 11 pistols that were hidden in a place near the LoC in the Poonch district.