J&K live: Two militants shot dead in Samba terror attack, 3 injured

1.53 pm: Another militant shot dead, say reports Latest reports say that a second militant has been shot dead by the security forces in Samba. 12.53 pm: One militant reportedly shot dead   Sources in the Army have told news agency ANI that security forces have gunned down one of the two militants who were firing at the camp. Meanwhile, Hindustan Times reports that three people have been injured till now in the attack. “Two army soldiers have also sustained minor injuries in this attack so far. Security forces are engaged with the militants in an encounter so that they are prevented from escaping,” HT quotes a police officer as saying. Zee News quotes home minister Rajnath Singh as saying, “We are in touch with the concerned authorities in the state. We have got a call from the Deputy Chief Minister and we have also received information from the intelligence. The necessary actions that are required are being taken.” 12.04 pm: Manohar Parrikar says operation is still on It is not clear if the gun battle at the Samba Army camp is over yet. Following conflicting reports about the attack, defence minister Manohar Parrikar said, “The operation is still on. I cannot comment on a security issue right now.” 10.12 am:  Lack of communication or deliberate strategy? Army, police, politicians sing different tunes on Samba attack While the Army officers dismissed reports that the civilian is was injured in the attack, the inspector general of Samba said that there was ‘speculative firing’ on. “Let’s not cook up stories. There have been some suspicious movements, the matter is being looked into. There is no need to cook up stories, everything is under control and no terrorist entered the camp,” he said. He added that there has been no firing recently, only a few gun shots have been heard. This after the defence PRO said that there two people firing at the camp. He also confirmed that the operation is on. “They have been cordoned outside the camp and the operation is on,” said Mehta. 9.48 am: No one is injured, says Army officer Speaking to ANI, defence PRO Lt Col Manish Mehta said that no one was injured in the attack, though Times Now interviewed a doctor in the Samba District Hospital who said one person was critically injured. “The civilian who was injured had fallen off his cycle. He didn’t sustain bullet or splinter injuries,” he said. Mehta added that the militants had not entered the Samba Army camp, they weren’t trying to either. They were firing at the camp from outside. “They have been cordoned outside the army area, they are likely to be two people,” said Mehta.

Samba attack: Security tightened at the spot where the encounter is underway pic.twitter.com/3qGnli80CT

— ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2015

9.oo am: Pilgrim critically injured in terror strike A man from Firozabad, who was on his way to Vaishno Devi on a cycle, was caught in a cross fire and was critically injured in the crossfire. “The first gun shots were heard at around 5.30-5.45 am. The pilgrim was injured in the firing,” Nirmal Singh, deputy CM of Jammu and Kashmir, told ANI. He added that the state was put on high alert following the Kathua attack and that’s why the militants couldn’t make a bigger attack at Samba. “Security forces have been alerted and will prevent such attacks,” he said. “Movement of militants is not confirmed, combing operation in underway,” Singh added. The Jammu-Pathankot highway has been sealed and gun shots can be heard from the army camp, still. A doctor at the hospital where the injured person was admitted said that he is badly injured and critical. 8.25 am: Another terror strike in Jammu and Kashmir Less than 24 hours after a terror group stormed a police station in Kathua, militants have struck at an Army camp in Samba. It is being suspected that the same terror group is also behind the second attack. Two militants attacked the Indian Army’s 81 armoured united in the Sambra sector early today morning. Live television reports suggested that sounds of small firearms and grenades were being heard from the site. A severe gun battle is on between the security forces and the militants right now. End of updates from 21/3/15 12.12 am: Our sympathies lie with families of those who lost their lives, says Rajnath Home Minister Rajnath Singh, in a statement in Lok Sabha, confirmed that two militants have been gunned down by the security forces and praised the security personnel for their work. “Our sympathies lie with the families of the policemen and the CRPF personnel who lost their lives in the attack,” Singh said. “A civilian who was shot down by militant has our sympathies,” he added. “We admire and commend the work done by our security forces,” said the Home Minister. 11.47 am: Gunbattle ends, two terrorists killed The counter-terror operation launched by security forces against the militants at the Rajbagh police station has ended, according to TV reports. Reports also said that another suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba militant had been killed in the encounter. [caption id=“attachment_2164373” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. PTI[/caption] A search operation is being conducted by the security forces in the area now. 11.27 am: Kathua terror attack reflects the lawlessness in Jammu and Kashmir, says NCP NCP leader Majid Memon slammed the PDP-BJP alliance in Jammu and Kashmir for the terror attack on the police station in Kathua district. “This is unfortunate in the sense that this only reflects that there is no rule of law, there is total chaos, lawlessness. Thanks to the uncomfortable PDP-BJP alliance which is in power in Jammu and Kashmir,” Memon told ANI. “We have been seeing from past more than a month, since the assumption of power by this combination that the separatist and anti-nationalist elements are being encouraged. They probably think that they are no more orphan, they have got somebody in the government to support, depending upon soft support of PDP,” he added. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut also said, “What do you expect under a CM who released Masarat Alam?” 11.03 am: Militants were wearing army uniform, says CRPF officer CRPF constable Bharat Prabhu, who was injured in the terror attack, said that the militants, wearing Army uniforms, intercepted a jeep going from Jammu to Pathankot on the pretext of checking the vehicle. The ultras then hijacked the jeep which had three passengers on board and fled towards the Rajbagh Police Station where they opened fire on a sentry and killed him. The militants then hurled grenades at the police station and opened indiscriminate fire. - PTI 10.32 am: Three security personnel killed, Rajnath meets PM Modi on the issue The death toll in the Kathua terror attack has now climbed up to 4, with three security personnel killed in the attack, reported NDTV. Another militant had been shot dead in the ongoing gunbattle. Meanwhile, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, along with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue, according to Times Now. 9.59 am: Pak should realise friendship and terrorism cannot go hand-in-hand, says Congress Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad criticised Pakistan for the terror attack and said the country should realise that friendship talks and terrorism cannot go hand-in-hand. “It is sad that Pakistan indulges in habitual backstabbing,” said Azad. “Foreign Secretary-level talk just happened…Pakistan should realise that friendship and terrorism cannot go hand in hand.” Azad also said that it is sad that the “peace process hasn’t even concluded and this has happened.” BJP leader Jitendra Singh also told Times Now, “This is evidence of the fact that Pakistan is refusing to mend its ways.” Home Minister Rajnath Singh is also expected to make a statement on the Kathua terror attack in the Parliament today, said reports. 9.35 am: Another security personnel killed, one militant shot dead Another security personnel has been reportedly killed in the attack, according to TV reports. Zee News also reported that nine people have been seriously injured in the attack. These nine include seven CRPF officers, one policeman and one civilian. One of the terrorists who attacked the Rajbagh police station in Kathua has been shot dead by security forces, according to reports. Heavy firing was heard from the site in which security forces launched a counter-operation against the militants. 8.59 am: Rajnath speaks to J&K DGP, Home Ministry monitoring situation The Ministry of Home Affairs is monitoring the situation in Kathua. The Home Secretary LC Goyal has also spoken to the Jammu and Kashmir DGP about the terror attack. Home Minister Rajnath Singh has also spoken to the Jammu and Kashmir DGP and has instructed the Home Secretary to closely monitor the situation.

The Union Home Minister has instructed the Home Secretary to actively monitor the situation. The MHA is in touch with the agencies of J&K

— गृहमंत्री कार्यालय, HMO India (@HMOIndia) March 20, 2015

HM spoke to the DGP of J&K and the heads of other security agencies regrading the terrorist attack in Kathua district.

— गृहमंत्री कार्यालय, HMO India (@HMOIndia) March 20, 2015

More from India

Why physiotherapists in India will no longer be allowed to use ‘Dr’ before their names Nepal’s Sushila Karki and her India connection

8.40 am: Terror attack carried out by 3 to 4 terrorists of LeT suicide squad, say reports A gunbattle in underway at the Kathua police station. The Jammu-Pathankot national highway has also been closed due to the attack, according to ANI. “We have issued an alert in various areas in Samba,” a security officer said.

Unidentified men open fire at Rajbagh police station in Kathua (J&K). Firing underway. https://t.co/M7GZBQMm9d

— ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2015

The terror attack was carried out by 3 to 4 terrorists, who reportedly belong to the suicide squad of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and were heavily armed with assault rifles and Chinese grenades, according to Times Now. 8.26 am: My thoughts are with brave security personnel, tweets Omar Abullah Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was the first politician to react to the terror attack and said that his thoughts were with the brave policemen dealing with the attack.

My thoughts are with those brave security personnel dealing with the Fidayeen attack in Kathua town of Jammu this morning.

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) March 20, 2015

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

NDA's CP Radhakrishnan wins vice presidential election

South Korea’s experience shows why India has been right about Trump

These Fidayeen will have walked across the border last night & launched their attack this morning which is the past pattern as well.

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) March 20, 2015

Terrorists attack police station in Kathua, 1 officer dead, civilian injured A policeman has been killed on early Friday morning after a group of militants attacked a police station in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said. Three CRPF personnel and a civilian have been injured in the attack till now. [caption id=“attachment_2163931” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters[/caption] Times Now reports that the terrorists are believed to be holding several hostages inside the police station. A report on CNN IBN said that security forces have been rushed to the spot. The militants attacked the Rajbagh police station in Kathua district in the early hours of Friday. “Militants used automatic weapons and hurled grenades at the Rajbagh police station in Kathua district today morning. One policeman was killed in the attack and three were injured,” a senior police officer told IANS. Exactly a year back, in March 2014, Kathua had witnessed a similar, audacious terror strike which left three people dead, including an army personnel. Three militants had arrived in the Indian Army’s combat uniform. They, then stopped a car and opened fire.