Terrorists attack Army camp in Samba

TNN

Jammu, 21 Mar 2015: Terror again struck Jammu on Saturday where militants opened fire at an Army camp on Jammu-Pathankot highway in Samba district. 

 

The militants opened fired and lobbed grenades at an Army camp in Meshwara area of Samba around 5:50am, security officials said. 

 

Entire area has been cordoned off by the Army and police and firing exchanges are going on, officials said. 

 

One militant has been killed in the encounter, TV channels reported.

 

A civilian, who was passing by the area, fell off his cycle during the firing and was injured, Army said. 

 

As per inputs received so far, two persons were possibly involved in the attack, defence PRO Lt Col Manish Mehta said Mehta said, 

 

However, it was difficult to say whether they were from the same group which attacked a police station in Kathua on Friday, he said. 

 

"At 5.45am, the terrorists had opened fire and let me tell you nobody has been injured. No soldier or civilian has been injured. The individual, who has been injured, had fallen off from his cycle during the firing. It is not a bullet or a splinter injury," Mehta told reporters. 

 

"They (attackers) were not trying to enter any unit. They have fired from outside and now they have been cordoned outside the army area," he added. 

 

Asked about the attack, defence minister Manohar Parrikar said, "Operation is on. I will comment after the operation is over. Let me get the information and I will come back to you. 

 

Officials said the Jammu-Pathankot Highway has been closed for vehicular traffic as a precautionary measure. 

 

Deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh told reporters that, "The first gunshots were heard at around 5:30am. One person was injured during the firing. As the state has been put on high alert following yesterday’s attack, the militants could not launch a bigger attack on Samba". 

 

"Security forces have been alerted and will prevent such attacks. Combing operation is underway," he said. 

 

"The operation is going on. Army is competent to deal with any kind of situation and undertake any action," Union Minister Jitendra Singh said. 

 

This is the second such terror attack in Jammu in as many days. 

 

’Fidayeen’ militants in army fatigues had stormed a police station in Jammu’s Kathua yesterday, killing three security personnel and two civilians, and leaving 11 others including Deputy SP wounded. 

 

Two militants were also killed in the gunbattle.