In a Sunday morning attack that has sent shock waves and gloom through India's administration, 17 soliders were killed in Uri, Jammu & Kashmir in a counter-terrorism operation.
According to a tweet by the Northern Command, a group of heavily armed terrorists attacked the rear administrative base of an army unit in Uri around 5:30am. Apart from the 17 soldiers martyred in the counter attack, four terrorists were also killed.
#JKOps Please find a statement attached on the operation at Uri in J&K @adgpi pic.twitter.com/9I90qRiEWT
— NorthernComd.IA (@NorthernComd_IA) September 18, 2016
Colonel SD Goswami, spokesman of the army's Udhampur headquartered Northern Command told IANS, "Four terrorists who had entered the rear base camp of an infantry battalion in Uri town were killed," adding "search operation was continuing inside the camp".
The fidayeen (suicide) militants had entered the camp around 5.30 a.m. Reports from Kashmir say all camps have been told to be on high alert.
"Administrative base had large strength of troops of units turning over after tour of duty who were stationed in tents/temporary shelters which caught fire, and resulted in heavy casualties in Uri (J&K). 17 soldiers have lost their lives in this operation," ANI reported a statement from the Army.
The attack comes just few days before Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is set to address that United Nations General Assembly.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag will visit Srinagar in light of the attack.
FLASH: Defence Minister Parrikar to visit Srinagar today in wake of the terror attack in Uri (J&K), in which 17 soldiers lost their lives
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 18, 2016
Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh to visit Kashmir in the wake of terror attack in Uri, in which 17 soldiers lost their lives. 4 terrorists killed
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 18, 2016
Home Minister Rajnath Singh has also called for a high level security meeting at 12:15pm, according to ANI reports. He also cancelled his trip to Russia and the United States.
Keeping the situation of Jammu and Kashmir in mind and in the wake of terror attack in Uri, I have postponed my visits to Russia and the USA
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 18, 2016
After Kaluchak, 2002 the Uri attack with 17 soldiers dead is the biggest in J&K in terms of casualties.
— Manu Pubby (@manupubby_ET) September 18, 2016
Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi condemned the attack and offered condolences to the families of the martyred soldiers.
Strongly condemn the militant attack on Army base in Uri. My heartfelt condolences to the families of the bravehearts martyred in the attack
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) September 18, 2016
Further search operations are underway.
FLASH: 17 soldiers died in terrorist attack in Uri (J&K). Total four terrorists killed in the operation. Combing operations in progress.
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 18, 2016
(This is a developing story.)