Civilian among 6 dead as Jammu attack ends
Deceased civilian a soldier’s father; 10 others injured, one critical
NEW DELHI/JAMMU: The death toll in an operation to flush out militants holed up in a residential area of the Sunjuwan military station in Jammu rose to six, with bodies of two more soldiers and a civilian recovered in search and sanitisation operations on Sunday, the Indian army said.
The three Jaish militants, who were killed in a pitched gun battle on Saturday, had stormed the army camp, attacking military personnel and civilians alike. Ten other people were injured in the attack, including five women and a 14-year-old boy who is battling for life after a gunshot wound to the head. The civilian who was killed was the father of a soldier. “The militants were wearing army combat fatigues and were heavily armed. AK-56 rifles, grenade launchers, grenades and other ammo were recovered from them,” said an army spokesperson. The attackers were all Pakistani citizens who had been operating in the Valley since last year, and had travelled to Jammu just days before the attack, the official said.
“One of the attackers, Qari Mushtaq alias Chotu, was active in Tral. The two others have been identified as Mohammed Adil alias Irfan Bhai, who was operating in Sopore and Pulwama sectors, and Mohammed Khalid Khan, who was also active in Pulwama,” said a central security official.
JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir police has discovered a “possible hideout” the terrorists might have used for a few hours before entering the Sunjuwan military station, said a police officer who did not want to be named.
A shed, around 100 metres from the possible point of entry of the militants, contains likely hints that the terrorists used it before going inside for an attack on the army, the officer added.
The isolated shed, with ‘Go India Go back’ written on one of its walls, was cordoned off by the police. They also erased the words ‘go’ from the slogan.
The officer said the police found some syringes and capsules inside the ‘hideout’ which suggests that the militants may have also used drugs before carrying out the attack.
A few water bottles and cigarette packs were among other things found inside the shed, the officer added.
The shed is close to the premises of the family quarters that were targeted by the militants during the attack.
Meanwhile, army chief General Bipin Rawat, after taking an areal survey of the military station and reviewing the security scenario with top army commanders, has returned to Delhi.
Sources said one more terrorist has been eliminated, taking their toll to four. So far, there have been six casualties, including a civilian.
Saturday’s attack happened nearly 15 months after the terrorists had stormed the army’s Nagrota camp, killing seven personnel including two officers on November 29, 2016.
COPS FOUND SYRINGES AND CAPSULES, WHICH SUGGESTS MILITANTS MAY HAVE USED DRUGS BEFORE CARRYING OUT THE ATTACK ON ARMY