Nagrota attack: Militants strike army camp; 2 jawans dead, 2 hurt in Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu: Militants attacked an army camp in Nagrota in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday morning, officials said. The attack reportedly started around 5.30 am with militants firing at a field regiment camp located in the garrison town of Nagrota near the headquarter’s of army’s 16 corps in the state. At least, two-three suicide attackers are believed to be holed up in the area as a heavy exchange of fire is going on between the militants and security forces. However, their exact number is still not confirmed. [caption id=“attachment_3033344” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters[/caption] The ongoing firing has killed two jawans and injured two others, one of them being a junior commissioned officer. CNN-News18 reported that the Indian security forces killed one terrorist later in the morning. According to the TV news channel, the militants entered the area dressed in army clothes. “A group of heavily armed militants, believed to be four-to-five in number, attacked the 166 field army regiment camp in Nagrota area of Jammu today (Tuesday) morning,” a police officer told IANS. “After entering the camp, the militants fired at the Officers Mess inside the camp. Two militants were killed and three soldiers injured. Other militants are still firing inside the camp,” the officer added. According to CNN-News18, the militants are currently holed up inside the officer’s mess near the camp. The camp is situated close to the headquarters of the Indian Army’s 16 Corps — a massive military formation that acts as a nerve centre to fight militancy and defend the borders in the Jammu region. This is the seventh terror attack in the last seven days. “The encounter is currently in progress, however, the number of militants is still not confirmed. We will able to give more details only once the operation is over,” Defence PRO, Manish Mehta told the news channel.

We will share info after ops over. Firing is going on but situation under control: Manish Mehta,Defence PRO on Nagrota attack pic.twitter.com/tTkgv5UCbb

— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2016

The security forces have cordoned off the area and ordered to shut down all schools Nagrota tehsil as a precautionary measure.  “We have ordered the closure of all schools and education institutions in Nagrota tehsil in view of the terror attack”, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Simrandeep Singh said. “We have ordered the closure of all schools and education institutions in Nagrota tehsil in view of the terror attack”, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Simrandeep Singh said. In view of the attack, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has been closed for traffic in the area, PTI said. An alert has been sounded in Jammu city as well. The attack came around the same time when an infiltration bid was undergoing near the Chambliyal Border Outpost in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir. (With agency inputs)