Ten people including four militants, three army troopers and an equal number of civilians were killed when militants dressed in military fatigue stormed an army bunker along International Border in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Thursday.
The attack came on the day when premiers of India and Pakistan exchanged greetings at SAARC Summit in Nepal. It also occurred a day before the scheduled poll rallies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Udhampur and Poonch districts of Jammu division.
A senior official, on the condition of anonymity, said the armed militants, who had apparently infiltrated on the intervening night of Wednesday, were spotted in Pindi Kalan village by locals who informed army and Border Security Force (BSF) personal.
“The militants, believed to be 6 in number, barged into a house where they held civilians hostage and later entered into an abandoned army bunker from where they fired on army,” the official said.
Another official, however, said the militants were four in number, who split themselves in two groups. “One group fired from house and another from bunker,” he said, adding, the militants before firing at forces shot dead three civilians.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said four militants, three civilians and three army troopers were killed in the deadly attack.
He expressed condolences with the families of slain army men and civilians. Omar said the timing of the attack ‘can’t be a coincidence’.
The security officials said the encounter is underway and one or two militants could be hiding in the bunker. They, however, said only three militants have been killed so far. “We can’t confirm death of fourth militant due to darkness,” they said.
