New Delhi: One terrorist was killed today during an encounter with Army in Samba district.
A Major and a jawan were injured during the attack at the Army camp on Jammu-Pathankote National Highway in Samba.
A civilian was also injured outside the camp and was rushed to the hospital. The injured person was identified as Papu Yadav of Uttar Pradesh, a Vaishnodevi Pilgrim.
Samba Deputy Superintendent of Police VP Singh said, "The injured has been taken to the hospital. Police is not allowed inside the Army camp. The Army is dealing with the situation on their own."
Militants also lobbed grenades at an Army 663 company unit of ASC at the Buchri belt of Meshwara.
There was a firing on Jammu-Pathankote National Highway near a dhaba adjacent to an Army camp in Samba around 5:50 AM by suspected militants, security officials said.
Jammu-Pathankot Highway has been closed for vehicular traffic as a precautionary measure, they added.
As per inputs received so far, two persons were possibly involved in the attack, Defence PRO Lt. Col Manish Mehta said Mehta said, However, it was difficult to say whether they were from the same group which attacked a police station in Kathua yesterday, he said.
When Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar was asked about the attack, he said, "Operation is on. I will comment after the operation is over. Let me get the information and I will come back to you. Officials said the Jammu-Pathankot Highway has been closed for vehicular traffic as a precautionary measure."
Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh told reporters that, "The first gunshots were heard at around 5:30 AM. One person was injured during the firing. As the state has been put on high alert following yesterday's attack, the militants could not launch a bigger attack on Samba."
"Security forces have been alerted and will prevent such attacks. Combing operation is underway," he said.
"The operation is going on. Army is competent to deal with any kind of situation and undertake any action," Union Minister Jitendra Singh said.
This is the second such incident during past 24 hours. 'Fidayeen' militants in army fatigues stormed a police station in Jammu's Kathua yesterday, killing three security personnel and two civilians, and leaving 11 others including Deputy SP wounded.
Two militants were also killed in the gun battle with security forces that lasted six hours. It was the first major militant attack in Jammu and Kashmir since the formation of the PDP-BJP state government on March 1.
