Home Minister Rajnath Singh holds emergency meeting at his residence in New Delhi to review the situation. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Union Home Secretary and top Army, Paramilitary and Home Ministry officials are attending the meeting.
Agencies / AIR / DD
At least 17 soldiers were killed and many injured after heavily armed terrorists stormed an Army camp in Uri town of Baramulla district in Jammu and Kashmir early morning today. In counter action, security forces gunned down four terrorists.
At least 20 Army personnel were also injured in the attack – some of them critically. They have been airlifted to Srinagar-based Army’s Base Hospital for advanced treatment.
An Army spokesman told media that terrorists launched the attack on Rear Administrative Base Camp of Infantry Battalion
file photo
at around 4 this morning triggering a fierce encounter.
Explosions and gunfire erupted at the camp which is located barely few metres away from the Army’s Brigade Headquarters. Army helicopters were pressed into service and the injured were evacuated from the encounter site. The combing operations are still on.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is holding an emergency meeting at his residence in New Delhi to review the situation. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Union Home Secretary and top Army, Paramilitary and Home Ministry officials are attending the meeting.
Mr Singh also spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and was apprised of the overall situation.
In view of the attack, Mr Singh has postponed his scheduled visit to Russia and the United States. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag are rushing to Kashmir.
The attack comes nearly two years after militants had carried out a similar attack at Mohra in the same area. Ten security personnel were killed in the attack that took place on 5th of December, 2014.