JAMMU : Nine people, including an Army officer, were today killed in twin militant attacks in Kathua and Samba districts of Jammu region.
“An Army officer namely Lt Col Bikramjeet Singh, two Army jawans have been killed as militants struck in Army Camp in Mesar area of Samba district,” a police spokesperson here told.
He said that earlier, militants barged into the Hiranagar Police Station of Kathua district and killed five policemen and a civilian.
“A group of militants had reportedly sneaked into the Indian territory from across the International Border, which is close to Hiranagar police station,” he added.
“The militants indiscriminately fired at the police station in which five policemen were killed and then they fled away towards the highway,” he added.
Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone Rajesh Kumar said the militants killed a civilian (driver) and hijacked a truck on the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway and moved towards Samba district.
“The militants were in combat dress,” he added.
On reaching Samba, they entered the Army Camp at Mesar, lobbed a grenade and fired indiscriminately, which was immediately retaliated by the Army troops.
“Fierce gun battle triggered between the militants and army troops inside the base camp in which an Army officer and two jawans were killed and four soldiers were wounded,” a defence spokesperson said.
He said the firing was on inside the camp. However, no militant outfit has yet claimed the responsibility for attack.
“The area has been cordoned while the traffic on Jammu-Pathankot national highway has been suspended due to ongoing gun battle,” the spokesperson said.
The Fidayeen attack came ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh-Nawaz Sharif September 29 scheduled meet in US.
In 2008, militants attacked Kaili Mandi area of Samba district in which four people including a photojournalist were killed and in 2002, a passenger bus was attacked by the militants in Hiranagar area when the Assembly elections were in progress in which seven people lost their lives.
(AGENCIES)
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