Second militant attack in two days as Hindus, Muslims celebrate festivals

Two militants who had escaped Kathua operations may have carried out Samba attack

GN Staff | March 21, 2015


#jammu and kashmir   #J&K   #militants   #samba   #kathua   #firing   #vaishno devi   #katra  

Two militants, who may have survived Kathua attack on Friday, launched an attack on security forces in early on Saturday. They attacked the 82 armoured regiment camp in Samba district on Jammu-Pathankot Highway, using grenades and automatic gunfire.

The militant attack came on the morning of the start of the nine-day Navratri festival, and on a day when Muslims are celebrating Nowruz, or the Persian New Year, in Jammu and Kashmir.

 A pilgrim on his way to the Vaishnoo Devi shrine in Katra town was injured critically and two Army soldiers have sustained minor injuries. However, Lt Col Manish Mehta, PRO (Defence) told reporters that no one has been injured in the attack. “No one has been injured, neither any civilian nor soldier. The terrorists weren't trying to enter any unit; they only fired from outside,” Lt Col Mehta said.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh said all necessary actions are being followed with regard to the militant attack on the army camp in Samba. "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," Rajnath said.

Security of the Mata Vaishno Delhi yatra has also been tightened in view of the attacks and educational institutions have been ordered shut in the Samba sector.

Jammu-Pathankot Highway has been closed for vehicular traffic as a precautionary measure, officials said. The pilgrim from Uttar Pradesh was critically injured in the attack. He was rushed to the Samba district hospital where doctors referred him to the Government Medical College Hospital in Jammu for specialised treatment.

Just on Friday, six people including two militants were killed in a similar attack on the Rajbagh police station in Kathua district.
Intelligence reports had indicated that four militants were involved in Friday's attack, but only two had been killed. Sources said that they believe the Saturday's attack is being carried out by the two guerrillas who survived in yesterday's attack after escaping from the spot.

The army camp houses 82 armoured regiment and comes under the command of army's 9th Corps headquartered in Yule Camp in Himachal Pradesh. The same camp was also attacked on September 26, 2013 by militants. Twelve people had been killed in that attack.

Comments

 

Other News

Tier-2 cities lead India’s digital credit push

Digital payments have become a reflex for urban India, but the confidence earned in paying has not yet carried over to borrowing. That is the central finding of `How Urban India Pays Report 2026`, released by Pahlé India Foundation in collaboration with Amazon Pay. Based on a survey of 5,149 consu

India calls for doubling bilateral trade with UK by 2030

Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal has called upon businesses in India and the United Kingdom to translate the opportunities created by the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) into expanded trade, investment, partnerships and job creation. Addressing the Bu

Gandhian movement after Gandhi failed: Ram Guha

The Gandhian movement in India, after Gandhi’s death, failed, says Ramachandra Guha, and blames Vinoba Bhave for it. But the movement found new, fertile grounds around the world and succeeded in bringing about a change in South Africa, the US and elsewhere. It is high time it returned home. Of cour

When religion, politics and Bollywood come together

Tavleen Singh, noted journalist and political commentator, has turned to fiction, with her debut novel ‘The Actor’ (HaperCollins India). Set in the near future, it has a superstar, Amit Singh, turning to politics, when the political landscape is dominated by prime minister Guru Gaynendraj

Cabinet approves setting up of Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority

The union cabinet, chaired by prime minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved the setting up of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), called Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority (ITLA), to strengthen research, planning, appraisal, monitoring and impact assessment within the broad domains of Transp

Why foundational literacy and numeracy is key to school education

Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) are often described as the building blocks of education. Yet, their significance goes well beyond a child’s ability to read a sentence, write a response or solve a basic mathematical problem. These foundational skills shape how children understand the world,

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter