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Regular-article-logo Tuesday, 30 April 2024

Soldiers, dad killed in attack on camp

The two-day gunfight between militants and security forces inside Jammu's Sunjuwan army camp ended on Sunday, with three more soldiers and the father of a soldier killed, taking the toll to six.

OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Srinagar Published 12.02.18, 12:00 AM
Army personnel outside the Sunjuwan military camp. (PTI)
 

Srinagar: The two-day gunfight between militants and security forces inside Jammu's Sunjuwan army camp ended on Sunday, with three more soldiers and the father of a soldier killed, taking the toll to six.

All six are from Jammu and Kashmir and were killed on Saturday, soon after the militants attacked the 36 brigade headquarters. The bodies of two junior commissioned officers had been found on Saturday, while the rest were found during sanitising operations on Sunday.

Three militants, suspected to belong to the Jaish-e-Mohammad, who carried out the raid have been shot dead.

The army said 10 people, including a lieutenant colonel, a major and family members of soldiers, were injured.

The army chief, General Bipin Rawat, visited Jammu to review the security situation.

"So far six fatal casualties have occurred. They include two JCOs, three jawans and one civilian dependant, all residents of Jammu and Kashmir," the defence spokesman at Jammu, Lieutenant Colonel Devender Anand, said.

"In addition, 10 people have been injured of whom six are women and children. They include one pregnant lady."

The pregnant woman, who was hit by a bullet on her thigh, was evacuated to a hospital on Saturday night and delivered a baby girl.

The slain soldiers have been identified as Subedar Madan Lal, Subedar Mohommad Ashraf Mir, Havaldar Habibullah Qureshi, Naik Manzoor Ahmad and Lance Naik Mohammad Iqbal.

Lance Naik Mohammad Iqbal's father, Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Sheikh, was the lone civilian killed. The family belongs to the militant stronghold of Tral.

The injured officers have been identified as Lieutenant Colonel Rohit Solanki and Major Avijit Singh.

Army sources said the gunfight had ended but the combing operation was still on. The operation would be called off only after that ends.

Of the three militants who were shot dead, two were killed on Saturday and one on Sunday. "The third terrorist was also found wearing army combat dress and was heavily armed similar to the other two killed previously. AK 56, Under Barrel Grenade Launcher, ammunition and grenades have been recovered from them," the spokesman said.

The army said the attack was launched by the Jaish-e-Mohammad's Afzal Guru Squad, set up to avenge the 2013 hanging of the Parliament attack convict. Friday was Afzal Guru's death anniversary and security camps across the state were on high alert for a militant attack.

The militants struck a day after the anniversary, targeting the residential complex inside the army camp where scores of families live.

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