A tourist taxi was hijacked today by suspected militants on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway near Ramban in Jammu and Kashmir. The taxi was allegedly hired from Pathankot.
However, the Director General of Jammu and Kashmir police (DGP) K Rajendra Kumar has assured of the security arrangements made in the area ahead of Independence Day.
Kumar said, "The investigation is on. We have found some leads and are working on it. It is premature to say anything at the moment. We will tell you soon about it".
"The investigation is at an advanced stage. I can assure you that some instances have taken place but investigation is going on all of them", he added.
Police and intelligence agencies suspect that the militants might use the vehicle to carryout attack on 15th August. Panic gripped the police here following the hijacking of the taxi (PB-35P-4434). This came to fore when the cops of CRPF BN 84's Road Opening Party found the owner of the Maruti-Swift taxi. He was identified as Karamveer from Pathankot who was choked with a cloth and tied with a rope to a roadside tree at a secluded place, at around 8 am today.
According to the Police sources, the taxi was reportedly hired by two unidentified Punjabi speaking persons. They hired it for the Srinagar trip on payment of Rs.5,000 in cash to the driver from Pathankot.
On reaching Jammu two more unidentified Kashmiri speaking persons, reportedly, acquainted with the duo boarded the same taxi. The carjackers had allegedly driven away the taxi towards Srinagar after decamping with his cell phone and Driving License. This happened at 1.30 am on gun point.
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The driver had used Rs.3,000 for filling petrol in the car and had paid Rs.1,000 to someone and was left with Rs.1,000.
It is suspected that the hijacked car might be used in a subversive act in the valley on 15th August.
Talking of security arrangements ahead of the Independence Day, DGP said, "We have done our arrangement for 15 august. Tomorrow in high-level meeting in which all the security officers and with all officials security arrangements have been reviewed. All the arrangements are in place. We are confident that this 15th august will go smoothly.