Diplomat Correspondent
Baramulla, (DD)A truck driver from Bomai Sopore was fatally shot by security forces during the intervening night of February 5 and 6, after allegedly ignoring multiple warnings at a security checkpoint in Baramulla.
The incident occurred amid heightened security measures following intelligence reports about possible militant movement in the region.
According to an official statement from the Indian Army’s Chinar Corps, security forces had set up a Mobile Vehicle Check Post (MVCP) near the Nexa showroom in Baramulla based on “specific intelligence input.” The statement said that a speeding truck approached the checkpoint but failed to stop despite repeated warnings, triggering a high-speed chase spanning 23 kilometers.
Troops reportedly fired shots at the truck’s tires to disable the vehicle, eventually forcing it to a halt at Sangrama Chowk. The driver, identified as Waseem Ahmed Mir, was found injured and was immediately evacuated to Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla, where he was declared dead.
Security forces have impounded the fully loaded truck and sent it for a detailed search at the nearest police station. Investigations are underway to establish the driver’s antecedents and examine the circumstances leading up to the shooting.
The Army’s statement emphasized that the security measures were based on credible intelligence and that the driver’s failure to comply with repeated stop signals raised suspicion. However, the incident has sparked discussions about the challenges of balancing counter-terror operations with civilian safety in conflict-sensitive regions.(DD)