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Both Terrorists Neutralised In Militant Attack In Jammu & Kashmir

Both Terrorists Neutralised In Militant Attack In Jammu & Kashmir
JAMMU, INDIA - SEPTEMBER 26: Army soldiers take position during a terrorist attack on an army camp in Samba, about 40 kilometers from Jammu, India on September 26, 2013. Four soldiers, six policemen and two civilians were killed in an audacious terror attack on an Indian Army base by heavily armed guerrillas. All three militants were also dead. (Photo by Nitin Kanotra/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
JAMMU, INDIA - SEPTEMBER 26: Army soldiers take position during a terrorist attack on an army camp in Samba, about 40 kilometers from Jammu, India on September 26, 2013. Four soldiers, six policemen and two civilians were killed in an audacious terror attack on an Indian Army base by heavily armed guerrillas. All three militants were also dead. (Photo by Nitin Kanotra/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

JAMMU — Both terrorists who had opened attack early Saturday morning in Samba district of Jammu & Kashmir have been neutralised, said India's Defence Ministry on Saturday afternoon.

Three people have been reported injured in the terror attack on the army cantonment at Jammu-Pathankot highway, ANI reported.

Two soldiers and a pilgrim were injured on Saturday in the militant attack, police said.

Armed with automatic weapons and grenades, militants attacked the Mesar camp of 82 armoured regiment in Samba district in the morning triggering a gunfight with the security forces which is still on.

The army camp is 40 km from the Jammu city on the strategic Jammu-Pathankot national highway.

"Most likely two militants are involved in the attack," a police officer told IANS.

Pappu, son of Mahadev Prasad of Ferozabad in Uttar Pradesh, was among the injured. He was on his way to the Mata Vaishnoo Devi shrine in Katra town of Reasi district, police said.

He was shifted to government medical college hospital in Jammu city after doctors at the Samba district hospital referred him.

"Two army soldiers have also sustained minor injuries in this attack so far," the officer said.

"Security forces are engaged with the militants in an encounter so that they are prevented from escaping," the police officer said.

Traffic on the Jammu-Pathankot highway has been suspended and all schools in Samba and Kathua districts of Jammu region have been shut.

All exams scheduled in these two districts have also been postponed.

The 82 field armoured regiment comes under the 9th Corps headquartered at Yule camp in Dharamshala, Himachel Pradesh.

The camp was also attacked by guerrillas on September 26, 2013 after they attacked the Hiranagar police station in Kathua district that day, killing 12 people.

Saturday's attack comes a day after after guerrillas attacked Rajbagh police station in neighbouring Kathua district of the Jammu region on Friday. Six people - two terrorists, two CRPF troopers, a policeman and a civilian were killed the attack.

Attack Started Early Morning

The suspected militants early this morning opened fire at a roadside eatery near an army camp on Jammu-Pathankot highway in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, said a PTI report.

There was a firing on highway near a dhaba adjacent to an Army camp in Samba around 5:50 am by suspected militants, security officials said.

The suspected militants also lobbed grenades at an Army 663 company unit of ASC at the Buchri belt of Meshwara area of Samba.

"Militants early this morning attacked the Mesar camp of 82 armoured regiment in Samba district. They are using grenades and automatic gunfire to carry out the attack. Most likely, two militants are involved in the attack," the police officer told IANS.

"Reinforcements are being rushed to the camp to ensure that the militants do not escape," he added.

Saturday's militant attack came on the morning of the nine-day Navratri festival, and on a day when Muslims are celebrating Nowruz, or the Persian new year, in the state.

The entire area has been cordoned off by the Army and police and firing exchanges are going on, officials said.

Second Such Incident In 24 Hours

This is the second such incident during past 24 hours. 'Fidayeen' militants in army fatigues stormed a police station in Jammu's Kathua yesterday, killing three security personnel and two civilians, and leaving 11 others including Deputy SP wounded.

Two militants were also killed in the gun battle with security forces that lasted six hours. It was the first major militant attack in Jammu and Kashmir since the formation of the PDP-BJP state government on March 1.

The Mesar camp was also attacked on September 26, 2013 by militants after they had attacked the Hiranagar police station in Kathua district. Twelve people had been killed in that attack.

On Friday, six people including two militants were killed in a similar attack on the Rajbagh police station in Kathua district.

Intelligence reports had indicated that four militants were involved in Friday's attack, but only two had been killed.

Intelligence sources told IANS that they believe the Saturday's attack is being carried out by the two guerrillas who survived in Friday's attack after escaping from the spot.

The Mesar camp houses 82 armoured regiment which comes under the command of army's 9th Corps that is headquartered in Yule Camp (Dharmshala) in Himachal Pradesh.

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