NPP blames Pak for Uri encounter, pulls up BJP-PDP Govt.

Holding Pakistan responsible for the Uri encounter, the National Panthers Party (NPP) on Sunday held the BJP-PDP coalition government responsible for not being able to tackle the situation and called for imposition of the Governor's rule.

NPP chief Harsh Dev Singh told ANI that Pakistan has initiated the attack, adding that things are worsening day by day.

"We strongly condemn the suicide squad attack at the army headquarters in Uri and this is we believe is highly condemnable and of course initiated by Pakistan. The things are worsening day by day, the situation is deteriorating with every passing day.this is highly worrisome. This is extremely alarming," Singh said.

Singh said the anti-national elements would be tackled at large if Governor's rule is imposed in the state.

"The government has failed to control the situation which has literally gone out of the control of the state government as well as the Central Government. We have been repeatedly asking for imposition of Governor's rule in the state because we feel there is no political will to control the present crisis in Jammu and Kashmir," he added.

As many as 17 soldiers and four terrorists were killed in the terrorist attack that started at around 5:30 a.m. today.

Combing operations are currently underway to ensure no untoward element still persists in the Army perimeters.

Army Chief General Dalbir Singh will visit Kashmir today in wake of the attack, while Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will visit Srinagar to take stock of the situation.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has instructed Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and other senior Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officials to closely monitor the situation in the valley.

The Home Minister is scheduled to chair a high-level security meeting at his official residence in the national capital this afternoon to take stock of the present situation in the valley in wake of the attack.

Senior MHA and Ministry of Defence (MoD) officials are expected to be present in the meeting.

The entire town has been sealed and security on the vital roads connecting the Line of Control has been beefed up.

The Army sent three choppers from army's 19 divisional headquarters in Baramulla to Uri.

Six soldiers have reportedly been injured, out of which three have been airlifted to the nearest hospital.

Para Commando troops have been deployed in the conflict zone to fortify the response by the defence.