Terrorists attack Army camp in J&K’s Baramulla district, 2 Indian casualties

Less than one week after India’s conducted surgical strikes across the Line of Control, an Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district came under attack by fidayeen militants on Sunday night.

Both sides engaged in heavy fire, in which one BSF trooper was martyred and another seriously injured. Two terrorists were also neutralized.

The Northern Command of Indian Army later confirmed that the situation at the 46 Rashtriya Rifles camp was contained.

“Baramulla Incident situation contained and under control,” the Northern Command said in a tweet from its official twitter handle.

The camp is located in Jabanzpora in Baramulla, around 50 km from Srinagar.

“Militants fired at the RR camp in Janbazpora area of Baramulla town late tonight.. at the outpost of the camp that is manned by the BSF (Border Security Force) troopers. A gunfight started after the militants’ firing was retaliated.” a senior police officer told IANS on phone from Baramulla town.

Two BSF troopers were injured in the gunfight, one of whom succumbed to injuries later. Constable Nitin was martyred, while Constable Pulwinder was injured. Both belonged to 40th battalion of the BSF.

Sunday night’s attack comes two weeks after the terror attack on an army camp in Uri, which is also in Baramulla district. The September 18 attack on Uri left 19 Indian soldiers dead.

Personnel of the border guarding force BSF, which is under the operational command of the Army in this area, stay in the camp along with soldiers.

According to official sources, the attack started around 10.30 p.m. when the fidayeen tried to enter the camp. Camp security was however not been breached, said informed sources.

The night cover made it difficult to ascertain whether the terrorists had fled or were killed. At least four terrorists were suspected of firing. The Army has now launched a search and cordon operation for them.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah meanwhile tweeted: “Colleagues in Baramulla town are phoning with reports of massive gunfire in their vicinity. Prayers for all in the area.”

Meanwhile, heavy cross-border firing was underway late on Sunday night in Jammu and Kashmir’s Jammu district as Pakistan Rangers opened indiscriminate fire on Indian positions in the Akhnoor sector and the Indian side retaliated, police said.

Cross border firing is often used to give cover to militants for infiltrating on the Indian side.

The Baramulla attack comes four days after the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes on terrorist launch pads across the Line of Control.

Timeline:

10:30 pm: Attack on Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
11:10 pm: Both sides continue to engage in heavy fire.
11:20 pm: Quick response team reaches Army camp.
11:30 pm – 12 am: BSF Director General K K Sharma briefs Home Minister Rajnath Singh on situation.
12 am: First reports of Indian casualties surface.
12:20 am: Situation contained and under control, combing operations begin.
1:35 am: Firing stops on both sides.
2 am: Second briefing by BSF DG to Rajnath Singh about current situation.