Two officers among seven soldiers killed in Jammu attack

Three terrorists, who forced their entry into the officers mess complex, were also killed

Seven soldiers, including two officers, were killed in a terror attack on a military base near Jammu on Tuesday, the army said.

At one stage, the gunmen also took 12 soldiers, two women and two children hostage. But the army said they were safely rescued.

"Two officers and five soldiers were martyred. Three terrorists have been killed," army spokesperson Lt Col Manish Mehta told reporters.

The prolonged gunfight began early on Tuesday after heavily armed suicide attackers stormed the camp at Nagrota town.

Some militants occupied the Officers' Mess where they took hostage 12 soldiers, two women and two children.

"They (the attackers) were hold up in two different buildings. A hostage like situation was averted and we successfully brought hostages out safely," Lt Col Mehta said.

He said the combing operation against the militants was halted after it became dark and would resume on Wednesday morning. "The area is under cordon.

"In these operations, there is no time limit and these have to be done professionally. There is no civilian injury."

The militants carrying automatic weapons and explosives forced their way into the field regiment camp of 166 Medium Regiment Artillery at Nagrota, some 15 km from here, around 5.30 am.