Jammu, August 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A suspicious vehicle that breached a security barricade in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district and fled despite warning shots fired by security personnel has been recovered, but its occupants remain untraced, officials said on Friday.
A joint search operation involving the Jammu and Kashmir Police, CRPF and Army is underway to locate the occupants of the vehicle, which triggered a security alert on the strategic Jammu-Srinagar highway during the ongoing Amarnath Yatra.
The incident took place at around 3.30 am at a security checkpoint in Chanderkote, Ramban, when a Mahindra Scorpio SUV (registration number JK02AK-1743) allegedly ignored repeated signals to stop and crossed the barricade.
“Despite repeated signals, the vehicle did not stop. Police personnel fired three rounds as a precautionary measure,” an official said.
The SUV moved towards Nashri on the highway before being abandoned by its occupants near Dalwas. Security forces recovered the vehicle later in the day, but the persons travelling in it had already fled, reportedly entering a nearby forest area.
Officials said initial investigation suggests that bovine smuggling could be the possible reason behind the security breach. Animal dung was allegedly recovered from inside the vehicle, indicating that it may have been used for illegal cattle transportation.
Sources said around three persons were believed to be travelling in the SUV. The incident has led to heightened security measures across Ramban district, particularly in view of the ongoing Amarnath pilgrimage.
Meanwhile, the Amarnath Yatra resumed from Jammu on Thursday after remaining suspended for a day due to security arrangements on the seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370.
A total of 1,801 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp for the cave shrine in south Kashmir. Officials said the 28th batch departed at around 2:45 am for the Baltal base camp under tight security arrangements, while no convoy was sent through the Pahalgam route.
The latest batch included 1,347 men, 351 women, 89 sadhus and 14 sadhvis, travelling in 74 vehicles.
More than 4.71 lakh pilgrims have so far offered prayers at the holy cave shrine. The 57-day pilgrimage will conclude on August 28 on the occasion of Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.
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