Nagrota Encounter Key Highlights: The swift response of security forces managed to avert a major terror attack on Thursday, apparently planned by Pakistan based Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists. The four Jaish terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway on the outskirts of Jammu city early in the morning.

Also Read | J&K: 4 JeM Terrorists Hiding Inside Truck Killed In Nagrota Toll Plaza Encounter; Cops Say DDC Polls At Target

The slain terrorists were carrying huge cache of arms and were headed to Srinagar, in a bid to disrupt the DDC polls in Jammu and Kashmir, as per police officials.

‘In all probability they were planning something big, perhaps "disruption of district-level elections", top police officer said.

Before opening fire, when the truck was apprehended, security forces offered the terrorists to surrender. The terrorists were hiding inside the truck which was loaded with rice sacks. They also used sand-filled rugs to keep bullets away.

Here is a look at some important findings from the site of encounter:

  • After the encounter, the ammunition recovered is one of the biggest consignments recovered in a long time, containing huge quantity of arms and ammunition, including 11 AK-47 rifles and pistols & 29 grenades, IG of J&K Police said.

  • The terrorists ambushed in the truck loaded with rice sacks. They had made bunkers from the rice sacks and were hiding between the cavities. Sacks full of sand were also used to protect them from bullets.

  • The driver of the truck has managed to flee. Around 5 a.m., the truck carrying the militants was stopped. On questioning, the driver got hesitant and leaped out and started running away.

  • This is the second such encounter on the Jammu-Srinagar National highway this year.

  • They had infiltrated into India through the international border in Samba last night.

  • IG, Jammu and Kashmir police had first offered the terrorists to lay down their weapons and surrender, before opening fire. "All the people hiding in the truck can come out, they will not be harmed,” IG Mukesh Singh announced, but the terrorists did not heed and they started firing on security forces.

  • While most of the ammunition and explosives were destroyed in the attack, some of the grenades which have been recovered have ‘made in China’ labels on them.