Abandoned car prompts manhaunt in Pathankot

A massive search operation has been launched by security agencies in Punjab's Pathankot district on Thursday following the recovery of an abandoned car and the reported suspicious movement of 4-5 people in the area.

Villagers of Bhagwal village, which is close to the border fencing on the India-Pakistan international border, told the police that 4-5 people came near the village in a speeding Alto car on Wednesday night.

The villagers tried to stop the car but its occupants sped away towards the agricultural fields and then fled on foot, leaving the black Maruti Alto car behind. The car had a number plate of neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir.

Some villagers said that shots were fired as the suspicious people tried to escape towards the border fencing.

Security agencies, including the Punjab Police, para-military forces and Army, sounded an alert in the border belt of Pathankot in North Punjab following the incident.

The Punjab Police and other security agencies were carrying out searches in the area, police officers said.

Pathankot district police chief Rakesh Kaushal said that the car was found abandoned near Bhagwal village. The vehicle was searched but nothing much was found from it.

Terrorists from Pakistan infiltrated from this area earlier. The terror attack on Pathankot airbase on January 2, was carried out by terrorists who had used the route from this sector to enter India.

--IANS

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