Pathankot, November 14: Security agencies are on high alert and carrying out a search operation in the border belt of Punjab, particularly in the frontier districts of Pathankot and nearby areas after four suspected terrorists hijacked a car. The incident took place in Madhopur. Four identified men hijacked the vehicle from a man who reportedly hails from Jammu and Kashmir.

Initial reports suggested the alleged hijackers were travelling from Jammu to Pathankot. A search operation was launched to trace the suspicious men. "A taxi driver picked four people from Jammu station and was travelling to Pathankot. But in Madhopur, those four people threw the driver out and absconded with his vehicle," a Punjab police officer told news agency ANI.

A similar incident had taken place in April this year when two suspected armed men stopped a Maruti Alto car belonging to one Maskin Ali and sought a lift. However, Ali and his friend had sped away, suspecting that they could be terrorists.

The Pathankot air base of the Indian Air Force (IAF) was attacked by terrorists, suspected to be from Pakistan, on January 2, 2016, leaving seven people dead. The area has defence establishments, including the frontier IAF base and the nearby Mamoon Cantt of the Army.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 14, 2018 10:16 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).