Seventeen soldiers and four militants were killed on Sunday during an attack on an army camp in Jammu and Kashmir’s Uri town, defence officials said. Most of the soldiers died after tents and temporary shelters they were in caught fire, says an official army statement.
The attack took place at around 5.30 am, when fidayeen (suicide) militants attacked the rear base camp of an infantry battalion in the border town.
The militants had attacked the Rear Base of one of the Army units deployed at Uri (J&K).
For Live Updates: Uri Attack: 17 Soldiers Dead, PM Modi Assures ‘Punishment’
The attack comes two years after militants had carried out a similar type of attack at Mohra in the same area. On December 5, 2014, six militants stormed an Army camp at Uri and killed eight Army soldiers, including a Lieutenant- Colonel, three Jammu and Kashmir policemen.
Army Troops Were in Tents Which Caught Fire: Army Statement
Indian Army’s Northern Command issued a a statement throwing more light on how the casualty numbers were so high.
The admin base had large strength of troops of units turning over after their tour of duty who were stationed in tents/temporary shelters which caught fire, and resulted in heavy casualties.
Read the full statement here:
Of the 17 soldiers killed, 15 were from and advance party of 6 Bihar regiment and two from the 10 Dogra Regiment.
Defence Minister Parrikar, Army Chief General Dalbir Singh to Visit Kashmir
In the wake of the attack on the administrative base of a unit in URI, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will visit the valley on Sunday to take stock of the situation.
Army Chief General Dalbir Singh will also visit Uri later in the day.
Rajnath Postpones Visit to Russia, US; Will Hold a High-Level Security Meet
Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday postponed his scheduled visit to Russia and the United States in the wake of the attack in Uri and the unrest in Jammu and Kashmir and called an emergency meeting to review the situation arising out of the terror strike.
A high-level security meet began at Singh’s residence at 12:15 pm. NSA Ajit Doval, Home Secretary, Intelligence Bureau Chief, Defence Secretary, DGMO of the Indian Army are attending the meeting.
The Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has instructed Home Secretary and other senior officers in MHA to closely monitor the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
The brigade headquarters is situated in Uri, a town of north Kashmir Baramulla district close to the Line of Control.
“If the militants responsible for the attack have recently infiltrated into the Indian side of the LoC from Pakistan or have been part of an existing group here is being established”, the officer added.
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