Fidayeen attack on army camp in Kashmir, one BSF trooper killed

An Indian Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district came under attack by fidayeen militants on Sunday night and heavy firing was witnessed. One BSF trooper was killed while another was injured in the gunfight.

The situation at the Rashtriya Rifles camp was later contained, the Northern Command of Indian Army said.

"Baramulla incident situation contained and under control," the Northern Command said in a tweet from its official twitter handle.

According to sources, the attack started around 10.30 p.m., when the terrorists tried to enter the Rashtriya Rifle camp. Heavy firing and grenade blasts were heard. Reports said there was firing from some houses close to the camps, but there was no official confirmation of this.A

The Army has not disclosed how many terrorists attacked the camp. It has been estimated that there were at least four attackers.

The gunfight stopped around midnight as per sources but operations are on to search the area to locate the terrorists. While reports said two terrorists have been killed, the Army did not confirm any killings till the filing of the report.

The camp is located in Jabanzpora in Baramulla, around 60 km from Srinagar.

The attack comes two weeks after the terror attack on an army camp in Uri, which is also in Baramulla district. The September 18 attack on Uri left 17 soldiers dead, while two soldiers died later.

"Militants fired at the RR camp in Janbazpora area of Baramulla town late tonight.. at the outpost of the camp that is manned by the BSF (Border Security Force) troopers. A gunfight started after the militants' firing was retaliated," a senior police officer told IANS on phone from Baramulla town.

Two BSF troopers were injured in the gunfight, one of who died later.

Personnel of the border guarding force BSF, which is under the operational command of the Army in this area, stay in the camp along with soldiers.

Sources also said that camp security was, however, not been breached, said informed sources.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah meanwhile tweeted: "Colleagues in Baramulla town are phoning with reports of massive gunfire in their vicinity. Prayers for all in the area."

Meanwhile, Heavy cross-border firing was underway late on Sunday night in Jammu and Kashmir's Jammu district as Pakistan Rangers opened indiscriminate fire on Indian positions in the Akhnoor sector and the Indian side retaliated, police said.

Cross border firing is often used to give cover to militants for infiltrating on the Indian side.

This comes within days of India carrying out a surgical attack on terror camps across border.

--IANS

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