Injured constable helped avert a major tragedy

JAMMU: A major tragedy was averted when an alert policeman, who was injured in a gunbattle with a group of terrorists at the Ban toll plaza in Nagrota near Jammu on Friday, uncovered a cavity inside the truck meant to ferry the armed terrorists to the Valley.

Constable Bhom Raj, who is stationed at the Ban toll plaza, said he and his colleagues had intercepted the Kashmir-bound truck for a routine checking. He said the driver, along with two more persons, was in the front seat of the truck. “They told us that they are carrying medicine and other items to Kashmir. But we were not satisfied,” Raj said.

“I found something suspicious while they were replying to the queries. I went towards the middle portion of the truck and found it laden with polymers and some other stuff including blankets,” Raj, who is undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College (GMC) hospital here, said.

Doctors said his condition is stable. The driver and cleaner were then questioned by the police and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, who asked them to remove the cover and open the door of the truck, he said.

“I started checking the vehicle and saw a blanket and shoes near the gate, when I peeped inside the middle door of truck, I grew suspicious. I thought the truck is fully loaded with white bags, how come blanket and shoes are there,” he said.

“As soon as we removed the cover, a man hiding under it immediately tried to shut the door. Then he fired at me. However, I managed to shut the door and bolted it from outside,” Raj said.

During the indiscriminate firing, a bullet pierced into Raj’s right arm. “Had I got a weapon, I would have killed more terrorists. I feel that this was an opportunity,” Raj said.

The L-shaped cavity was formed inside the truck to hide the terrorists and ferry them to Kashmir, officials said.