A low-intensity explosion rocked the General Bus Stand Jammu last night. The explosive was apparently lobbed to target the police station building in the vicinity.
Police said it is suspected that a grenade was thrown from a moving vehicle to target the police station building, located near the main entrance of the bus stand.
“Around 00.20 hours, some miscreants lobbed a grenade from roadside targeting Police Station Bus Stand located in JDA complex but fortunately it hit iron bars of a shop’s hoarding and averted a major tragedy,” a police officer said.
“No casualties were reported in the explosion that occurred around midnight,” the officials said. Soon after the attack police immediately cordoned off the area and an alert was sounded to track the culprits.
“Special makeshift check posts have been established at all entry points of the winter capital. Vigil has been intensified at the International Border and Line of Control,” sources said.
“Senior Superintendent of Police Jammu, Tajinder Singh, who assumed charge on Friday afternoon chaired a special security meeting of all district police officers and SHOs,” sources said.
Sources added that said that intelligence agencies had already warned the administration about possible attack in Jammu.
When contacted, the SSP Jammu said, “The investigation is on and we are working on various angles to trace the culprits.”
“It is too early to say anything, will share details when we get some important lead,” he added.
This was the second attack on the Jammu bus stand in over seven months. Earlier on May 24, militants hurled a grenade targeting a police gypsy parked at bus stand along the BC Road but it hit a bush, resulting in minor splinter injuries to two policemen and a civilian.
Meanwhile, army recovered arms and ammunition in Billawar tehsil of Kathua district today.
“On inputs gathered by Military Intelligence, Army’s Samba Brigade launched a joint operation with state police at Galak in Billawar Block of Kathua district,” Lt Col Devander Anand, Jammu based defence spokesman said.
“On search of the area, one AK 47 Assault Rifle, one AK 56 Assault Rifle, one hand grenade, four magazines, 256 rounds of AK ammunition, 59 rounds of Sniper ammunition were recovered,” he said. “The recovery has averted a major militant attack planned in Jammu region.”
Meanwhile, with back to back militancy related operations in relatively peaceful Jammu region, the focus of security forces has again shifted towards active over ground workers (OGWs) in Jammu.
In February this year, a major attack took place at Sunjuwan Military Station in which six army personnel and a civilian were killed. The militants were also gunned down.
In September, an encounter broke out with militants in Jhajjar Kotli area of Jammu–Srinagar highway, after police intercepted a truck.
