Baramulla Attack: Terrorists Used Civilians as Shield to Escape
According to reports, terrorists did not breach 46RR camp and tried to enter through a public park near the camp.
advertisement
- The Indian Army’s Northern Command confirmed at 12:30 am that the situation was ‘contained and under control’
- One BSF jawan has been martyred in the attack at the 46 Rashtriya Rifles army camp in Baramulla, J&K
- Terrorists tried to enter through a public park but were not able to breach the 46 RR camp
- BSF DG KK Sharma briefed Home Minister Rajnath Singh about the incident
- Heavy exchange of fire took place from both the sides of the border
- This attack comes 14 days after the terrorist attack at Uri in J&K that killed 20 Army jawans
Three Civilians Injured in Fresh Pakistan Ceasefire Violations in Kashmir
Two women and a man were injured in mortar and small arms firing from across the LoC with Pakistan on Monday as border tension continued amid fresh ceasefire violations in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
Indian border guards effectively retaliated using same calibre weapons, they said. The intermittent fire exchanges continued in Akhnoor till noon.
Frightened by shelling and firing, dozens of families abandoned homes, cattle and agricultural fields in Pallanwalla area and fled to safer places.
Similar scenes were witnessed in Poonch near the Line of Control (LoC) later when Pakistan Army resorted to heavy shelling and firing in Shahpur, using 82 mm mortar shells which fell in a large area on the Indian side.
Security Forces Pay Tribute to Martyr, Nitin Kumar
Senior BSF and police officers on Monday paid tributes to a BSF jawan who was killed in the Baramulla attack.
Coffin carrying the body of constable Nitin Kumar, wrapped in tri-colour, was brought to BSF Subsidiary Training Centre Humhama near Srinagar Airport where Additional Director General of BSF Arun Kumar and Special Director General of Jammu and Kashmir police (coordination and law and order) SP Vaid joined other ranks and offered floral tributes to the jawan.
After the wreath laying ceremony, the body of the BSF personnel was sent to his hometown in Uttar Pradesh, officials said.
‘Civilians Were Used as Shield’
We Are Determined to Stop the Enemy’s Attempts: IG BSF Vikas Chandra
Reacting to questions over the increased number of attacks by terrorists on the security forces, IG BSF in Kashmir, Vikas Chandra said:
Search Operation Called off After Baramulla Attack, Militants Escape
A massive search operation to hunt down militants who escaped after a failed attempt to attack an army camp in north Kashmir's Baramulla town was called off on Monday morning, officials said.
The search operation, which lasted for more than six hours, was launched soon after a two-hour gunfight outside the camp of counter-insurgency 46 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) in Janbazpora stopped late Sunday night, a senior police officer said.
"After six hours, the search operation was called off and traffic restored in the area," he said.
Border Security Force (BSF) Constable Nitin Kumar was killed and Constable Parminder injured when a group of heavily armed guerrillas attacked the camp on Sunday night.
"The two troopers got suspicious of some movement. When they tried to find out the cause, they were fired upon by militants using grenade-launchers. One of the grenades exploded, seriously injuring Nitin," BSF's Kashmir Frontier Inspector General Vikash Chandra told Times Now.
Parminder was hit in his leg. Despite his injuries, Constable Nitin fired at least 20 rounds while Parminder fired 48 rounds.
"Nitin Kumar succumbed to injuries in a hospital. But we repulsed the attack," the IG said.
"We have seized a wirecutter, which points towards the terrorists' intention. They should ideally have been killed, but they escaped due to darkness and ground conditions," the BSF officer said.
GPS Trackers Recovered From Baramulla Attack Site
A GPS tracker, a compass, food packets and a wire cutter were recovered from the site of attack near the BSF camp in Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir, Vikas Chandra, Inspector General, BSF told CNN News18.
These items were found outside the Army camp, along river Jhelum, near the bunker which first noticed movement.
Ceasefire Violation in Poonch
Hours after Army camps Baramulla came under fire, ceasefire was violated in Shahapur region in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir.
Two civilians also got injured in ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Saujian Sector of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir today.
Deceased, Injured Jawans Identified
The deceased BSF jawan was identified as Constable Nitin. The 24-year-old was from Etawah in Uttar Pradesh.
The injured personnel was identified as Constable Pulwinder. Both belong to the 40th battalion of the BSF, officials said.
HM Speaks With NSA and DG BSF
Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke with NSA Doval and DG BSF about the Baramulla attack.
Combing operations in the camps which came under attack came to an end six hours after the firing reportedly stopped.
The name of martyred BSF jawan is Constable Nitin while the injured is Constable Pulwinder. Both belong to the 40th battalion of the BSF, officials said.
Senior BSF officials have reached the spot.
BSF DG KK Sharma briefed Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh about the incident.
Terrorists Came Through Jhelum River
According to reports, the terrorists came in two groups crossing the Jhelum river. Combing operations are still underway.
Situation Under Control: Indian Army
The Indian Army’s Northern Command, in charge of Baramulla area among others, tweeted that the situation was ‘contained and under control.’
How the Baramulla Attack Unfolded
- Initial reports said the first gunshots were heard at 8:25 pm, followed by blasts and intermittent firing, which is continuing.
- Terrorists attempted to breach the 46 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) camp located inside a stadium in Stadium Colony area of Old Baramulla town.
- Official sources said terrorists were believed to have entered the establishment through the adjacent BSF camp.
- The attack bore hallmarks of a “fidayeen” attack.
- The camp is located on the banks of the Jhelum river between Azad Gunj and Janbaz Pora localities of Baramulla town.
- On the other side of the river are also located important police and army installations, including the Divisional Headquarters.
One BSF Jawan Martyred, Two Terrorists Killed
One BSF jawan has been martyred and one was injured in an ongoing heavy gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla late on Sunday night as guerrillas attacked an army camp, police said.
Police said the 'fidayeen' (suicide attackers) attacked a camp of the counter-insurgency 46 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) in Janbazpora area of Baramulla town.
Home Ministry spokesman on Monday claimed in the morning that two terrorists had been shot dead but this has been corroborated neither by army, BSF or the local police.
The spokesman later said that the report of the killing of two terrorists was a "claim" and it was being "verified".
Meanwhile, Heavy cross-border firing was underway late on Sunday night in Jammu and Kashmir's Jammu district as Pakistan Rangers opened indiscriminate fire on Indian positions in the Akhnoor sector and the Indian side retaliated, police said.
In a tweet, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah 'prayed for all those in the area.’
Meanwhile, the Pakistani troops violated ceasefire along the LoC in J&K's Akhnoor sector.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)