Image Source: TIMES NOW

The security forces have prevented a major terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. Sources said the terrorists had planned a major terror attack on the lines of the Pulwama attack of February 2019, in which 40 CRPF personnel were martyred. The security forces recovered a car carrying an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in South Kashmir's Pulwama district. It is suspected that the terrorists were planning to place the explosive-laden car at a strategic location in order to target a convoy of the security forces or hit a defence installation. Terrorists had placed the IED inside a blue drum which was being transported in the car. Instead of defusing the explosive, the security forces decided to explode the IED along with the car.

Before the in-situ explosion was carried out, a bomb disposal squad was called to the spot, and people were shifted away from the vicinity. The Jammu and Kashmir Police said in a tweet: "A major incident of a vehicle-borne IED blast is averted by the timely input and action by Pulwama Police, CRPF and the Army." It has been reported that the security forces had intercepted a car late last night at Rajpora in Pulwama district. The police had earlier got a specific tip-off about a single car, which was later tracked to Shaadipura (Rajpura road). The person driving the car, suspected to be a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist, managed to flee in the cover of darkness following a short gunfight with the security personnel. Initial investigation into the matter has revealed that the car, a white colour Santro, was being driven with the number plate of a two-wheeler, registered in the name of a resident of Kathua in Jammu. The Pulwama police had got credible information last night that a terrorist was moving with an explosive laden car. They took out various parties of police and security forces and covered all possible routes keeping themselves and security forces away from the road at a safer location.
The suspected vehicle came and a few rounds of bullets were fired towards it. Going a little further, the vehicle was abandoned and the driver escaped in the darkness. On closer look, the vehicle was seen to be carrying heavy explosives in a drum on the rear seat. It was kept under watch at night, people in nearby houses were evacuated and the vehicle was exploded in-situ by bomb disposal squads as moving the vehicle would've involved serious threat. The vehicle is reportedly using a number plate of a scooter registered somewhere in Kathua district, it added.