Less than 24 hours after militants stormed a police station in Kathua, Jammu& Kashmir and killed two police personnel, there’s been a fresh attack today in the state - at an Army camp in Samba.
News reports indicate the same group is behind this second attack.
Here are the day’s developments.
5.45 am: Two militants attack on the Indian Army’s Samba camp
The militants opened fired and lobbed grenades at an army camp in Meshwara area of Samba around 5:50 AM, security officials said.
As per inputs received so far, there were two attackers, Defence Public Relations Officer, Lt. Col Manish Mehta said.
“At 5.45 AM, the terrorists had opened fire but a soldier or civilian has been injured, Mehta told reporters.
8.45 am: Gun battle has gone on for three hours
A gun battle is on between the security forces and the militants right now.
A man has meanwhile been caught in the crossfire and has been injured. “The individual, who has been injured, had fallen off from his cycle during the firing. It is not a bullet or a splinter injury,” Mehta says.
12.00 pm: Attack mellows down, only a few gun shots
The inspector general of Samba has said that ‘speculative firing’ is on. “Let’s not cook up stories. There have been some suspicious movements, the matter is being looked into. Everything is under control and no terrorist entered the camp,” he said.
The attackers’ movements have been restricted by a cordon.
3.00 pm: Defence Minister Manohar Parikar talks about the incident
The two back to back terror attacks in Jammu is an attempt by the militants to boost their morale which has come down due to the Army operations, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said.
“When the morale of the opponents are down, they make such attempts to boost it,” Parrikar said replying to questions about the attack by militants in Jammu and Kashmir today.
Stating that the International Border has many drains, he said at times it is difficult to man the area completely. The IB comes under the purview of the BSF.
Giving figures, Parrikar said that the Army has killed about 26 militants this year with only one loss from its side. He said this proves that the Army was doing better and that intelligence has also improved.
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