SRINAGAR, September 18: At least seventeen Indian soldiers were killed while 20 others injured, some of them seriously, during a most deadliest attack on an army headquarters in Uri area of Baramulla district, the army’s northern command said Sunday.
Local media reports quoting Indian army said that between four and six attackers entered the brigade headquarters in a commando style in Uri and opened fire on rear administrative echelons of the army.
The reports feared that toll could rise as the encounter was continuing, with the army deploying helicopters to evacuate 30 soldiers who had been injured in the dawn attack.
“Four terrorists killed in counter-terrorist operation at Uri. 17 soldiers make the supreme sacrifice,” the command said on Twitter, referring to the Uri area, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of the troubled northern region’s main city of Srinagar. The injured have been brought to army base hospital in Srinagar. At least nine injured soldiers are critical, Hindustan Times quoting sources.
In New Delhi, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh is reported to have cancelled his planned trips to Russia and the United States. He said in a series of Twitter posts that he had spoken to the region’s political and military leadership and senior officials were monitoring the situation.
Later, the Home Minister chaired high level security meeting which was also attended by National Security Advisor, Home Secretary, and Intelligence Bureau chief.
Singh also instructed home secretary and other senior officers in Ministry of home affairs to closely monitor the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
Rajnath Singh has also briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Uri encounter.
“Keeping the situation of Jammu and Kashmir in mind and in the wake of the terror attack in Uri, I have postponed my visits to Russia and the US,” Rajnath Singh said in a series of tweets.
“I spoke to Governor (NN Vohra) and Chief Minister (Mehbooba Mufti) of Jammu and Kashmir regarding the terror attack in Uri. They have apprised me of the security situation in the state,” he said. “I have given instructions to the Union Home Secretary (Rajiv Mehrishi) and other senior officers in the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) to closely monitor the situation,” he added.
Reports said that six injured soldiers were airlifted to the army’s base hospital in Srinagar.
Meanwhile, the Indian army spokesperson claimed that four attackers were killed in the encounter.
Fidayeen attacked the rear base camp of an infantry battalion and not the headquarters of 12 Brigade in Uri Sunday morning which is posted on the Line of Control (LoC),the sources added.
Rebels entered the camp and intense firing and explosions were heard, a senior police officer said.
While army and BSF have upped security on the borders, army formations and bases will be further fortified following today’s attack, said an army officer in Jammu.
This attack has obviously compelled us to have a thorough re-look at all the army formations and bases and a detailed security audit will be conducted shortly, he added.
Bodies of four of the fidayeen have been discovered, sources told local media, adding that firing has stopped and the area was quarantined. Special forces of the army were air dropped to fight the fidayeen.
Defence minister Manohar Parrikar said he will visit Uri and home minister Rajnath Singh cancelled scheduled trips to Russia and the United States and called an emergency meeting to discuss the situation.
Army chief Dalbir Singh and northern command head DS Hooda also rushed to Uri.
Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh is also reaching Srinagar and from 15 Corps headquarters, he along with Gen Hooda will be flying to Uri, said an army officer.
Sources said one battalion was being moved and another was taking over, most soldiers in transit were staying in tents. The tents caught fire in the initial stages of the attack. Sources say 12 casualties occurred due to fire and others lost life in gunfight with militants. – Agencies
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