Eight die as militants attack army camp in Kashmir (Third Lead)

Heavily-armed militants mounted an audacious attack on an Indian Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district early Friday, triggering a fierce gunbattle that left the three rebels dead. Three soldiers and two policemen were also killed.

The brazen pre-dawn terror attack took place at army's Field Ordinance Camp located at Mohra near the border town of Uri.

The attack took place in the midst of the five-phase elections in the state. The next phase of elections is Dec 9. The polls began Nov 25 and end Dec 20, with the votes being counted Dec 23.

The gunmen struck at 3 a.m., but were quickly challenged at the main gate of the army camp.

The sentries on duty heard the gunshots and accosted the rebels who were armed with automatic weapons and hand grenades.

Two policemen responded to the terror attack. "A head constable and a constable have been killed," a police official said.

There are differing accounts of whether the militants managed to enter the army camp. An officer said that they did enter, but the attack was repulsed, while another said that the gunfight was limited to the main gate of the camp.

The gunfight has now stopped, the senior police officer told IANS around 11 a.m.

"Quick Response Teams (QRTs) were rushed to the site after the militants attacked the camp. The militants opened fire at one of the QRT vehicles on the main road, killing an officer and two soldiers," the police officer said.

He said that the soldiers who took on the rebels were killed outside the camp.

A massive hunt has been started in and around the army camp.