Abandoned car near Pathankot triggers search but terror angle ruled out

Pathankot: With memories of January terror attack fresh in mind, detection of a suspicious car with Jammu and Kashmir registration number in a village near here triggered an alarm and an investigation which concluded later today that there was no terror angle involved.

The car was spotted by locals in Farfal village last night following which they gave it a chase, Pathankot Senior Superintendent of Police Rakesh Kaushal said, adding the occupants of the car then locked the vehicle and fled.

Police launched a hunt for the occupants.

After the investigation, Kaushal ruled out terrorist angle and said "nothing suspicious" was found from the car after it was opened by police.

He said the car is registered in the name of Ghulam Mustaba of Samba district in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Investigations revealed that Mustaba is a notorious smuggler," he said.

"It seems the car was being used for smuggling purpose," he said, adding Punjab police had got in touch with its counterpart in Jammu and Kashmir in this regard.

On January one, four heavily-armed terrorists struck at Airbase here.