The attack comes just three days before the Prime Minister meets his Pakistani counterpart in the US.
Three terrorists sneaked across the border into Jammu and Kashmir and killed 10 people, including a Lieutenant Colonel of the Indian Army, in two audacious attacks today.
Dressed in Army fatigues, the
fidayeen or suicide attackers first struck a police station in Hiranagar of Kathua district in Jammu at about 6.45 am, killing four cops and two others. At about 7.30 am they attacked an Army camp 20 km away and killed four unarmed Armymen, before being shot dead in a nine-hour-long gun battle.
The attack comes just three days before the Prime Minister meets his Pakistani counterpart in the US. Dr Manmohan Singh has called it "one more attack and barbarism by enemies of peace" and made it clear that his plans remain unchanged. "We will not allow it to derail our attempts to find resolution through the dialogue process," he said in a statement. (
PM says J&K attacks won't derail dialogue with Pak) | (
Read full statement)
The BJP has slammed the PM for that resolve and urged him to cancel Sunday's meeting with the Pak PM. "Mr Prime Minister - No dialogue over dead bodies. Please cancel your meeting with Nawaz Sharif," said BJP leader Sushma Swaraj.
In Tamil Nadu, the BJP's presumptive Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at a public rally, "Mr PM the country wants to know what is your priority? Is it national pride and respecting the blood of martyrs or is it to show eagerness to talk to Pakistan under pressure from other countries?" (
J&K attacks: PM in 'hurry' to start talks with Pak, says BJP)
The bodies of the three terrorists - aged between 16 and 19 - and believed to be members of the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba or LeT, are in the custody of the Army, officials said.
Top government sources told NDTV that the attack indicates detailed planning and was probably based on a recce.
At the Samba camp, the terrorists lobbed a grenade to kill a sentry at the gate. They then reportedly walked into the officer's mess shouting jihadi slogans and shot people at point blank range. Lt Col Bikramjeet Singh, the second in command of 16 Cavalry, the armoured corp unit attacked today, was reportedly shot twice in the stomach. The Commanding Officer Colonel A Uthaiah is among over a dozen people injured in the two attacks. (
How terrorists stormed J&K police station, army camp) | (
Timeline)
After shooting people in the mess, the terrorists spread out into the camp creating chaos.
Crack Commandos from nearby regiments were rushed in as reinforcements. A helicopter hovered near the Army camp as soldiers fired at the attackers. Two tanks moved inside the camp looking for the assailants.