Truck driver dies in Kashmir as army ‘fires to deflate tyres’

A civilian was killed in army firing after he allegedly jumped a check post in his truck and triggered a 23km chase in Baramulla district of Jammu & Kashmir on Thursday, officials aware of the matter said, prompting the man's family and the region's parties to accuse the personnel of using excessive force.

- Mir Ehsan

Stressing that such incidents could alienate the people of the restive region, chief minister Omar Abdullah said he has asked the Centre for an impartial probe into the killing.

According to officials, security forces set up a checkpoint on the Kupwara-Sopore highway in the north Kashmir district on Wednesday following inputs about the movement of terrorists in the area. At around 12.30am, a truck approached the checkpoint but sped away, leading to a high-speed chase, they added.

“On 05 Feb 2025, based on a specific intelligence input about the movement of terrorists, a Mobile Vehicle Check Post (MVCP) was established by Security Forces. One speeding, suspicious civil truck was spotted.

When challenged, the truck didn't stop despite repeated warnings instead accelerated further while crossing the check post," the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps posted on X.

It added: "Alert troops pursued the vehicle for over 23 km.

Shots were fired aiming on the tires to deflate which forced the vehicle to halt at Sangrama Chowk. Consequent to detailed search, the injured driver was immediately evacuated to GMC [Government Medical College] Baramulla by Security Forces where he was declared dead." To be sure, the exact spot where the checkpoint was set was not immediately known. It was also not immediately known how many army vehicles were part of the chase or if there were other checkposts on the route.