In the last two months, since the civilian protests began in the Valley, the chief of Lashker-e-Toiba Hafiz Sayeed and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen chief Syed Salah-ud-Din had repeatedly threatened to carry out major terror attacks on security installations in Kashmir and in other states of the country.
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Unidentified militants on Sunday night snatched weapons of police personnel guarding the residence of ruling People’s Democratic Party’s district President from Anantnag, police said.
India claimed that between four to six fully armed fighters (Fedayeen) attacked the fortified complex – which houses an infantry battalion under the operational control of Army’s 12th brigade – in Uri at 5:30 AM.
At least 17 soldiers were killed when a group of terrorists attacked an Army base in Jammu and Kashmir’s Uri sector today. India blamed the same group for an audacious attack in January on an Indian air force base in the northern state of Punjab that left seven soldiers dead.
Leaders across the political spectrum including Congress President Sonia Gandhi condemned the attack. “The United States is committed to our strong partnership with the Indian government to combat terrorism”, John Kirby, Assistant Secretary and State Department spokesperson said in the statement released by the USA embassy in New Delhi. “Pointing fingers at Pakistan has become a traditional tendency of India after each terrorist attack”, Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria stated. “I assure the nation that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished”. India has conveyed serious concern to Pakistan over this. The death toll may rise as some of the wounded soldiers were critical.
Three fidayeen terrorists had opened fire on a Himachal roadways bus before storming an army camp before being gunned down.
In a statement based on initial reports, Ranbir Singh – the Director General of Military Operations – said objects bearing Pakistani markings+ had been recovered from the terrorists.
The DGMO said that the terrorists had fired incendiary ammunition along with automatic fire of small arms that led to army tents and temporary shelters catching fire.
Earlier in the day, Home Minister Rajnath Singh held a high-level meeting in New Delhi and reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
Modi saluted all those martyred in Uri. He said, those behind this terror incident would be brought to justice.
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J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti condemning the dawn terror attack at an army base in Uri said it appeared to have been aimed at “triggering fresh violence and creating a war-like situation in the region”.
