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2 militants, JCO killed in attack on army camp in Baramulla

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

At least two militants and a junior commissioned officer were killed while five others, including three soldiers, were wounded in fighting that broke out after militants sneaked into a heavily guarded army camp in the border town of Baramulla late this evening.

The gun battle lasted more than two hours in the army's EME building, part of the divisional headquarters in Baramulla.

A senior district police officer said troops encircled the area and were conducting an intensive search to find "a suspected third militant who may have been part of the group of intruders".

But a defence spokesman in Srinagar said only two extremists were seen moving suspiciously in the camp and shot dead by troops.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, Baramulla range, Dilbagh Singh told rediff.com that some extremists, whose exact number was not known, sneaked into the EME building and started firing. He said the militants drove into the camp in a car.

The DIG said two soldiers received injuries and were rushed to hospital. The entire area has been cordoned off.

Top police sources in Srinagar said two civilians were also injured in the exchange of fire. They too were moved to hospital.

Giving details, a spokesman of the 15 Corps said that at around 1740 IST, two militants were seen moving suspiciously near the workshop. On being challenged by a sentry, the militants opened fire and rushed for cover. The sentry returned the fire, killing one of the extremists near the boundary wall while the other entered an unoccupied building.

"The building was immediately cordoned off and the second militant was also killed at 1930," the spokesman said.

Two AK-47 rifles were recovered from the slain men. But in the indiscriminate firing by the militants, one JCO was killed and two civilians received injuries.

Tension gripped the town and people ran for cover. Several residents who were on their way home could not reach the main town as traffic was stopped on the outskirts of Baramulla. Troops are searching areas surrounding the town as well.

Baramulla is a highly sanitised town in north Kashmir and officials admitted that the attack was a setback.

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