A brigadier was killed when a militant hiding in the Akhnoor army camp, which came under fidayeen attack leading to the death of seven soldiers, fired upon Northern Command chief Lieutenant General Hari Prasad and some top officers.

Lt Gen Hari Prasad received injuries and has been flown to Srinagar for treatment. The killed army officer has been identified as Brigadier Ram Goyal of the EME.

General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) 16 Corps Lt Gen T P S Brar, Major General Sapru, commander of a brigade based in Akhnoor, Brigadier Baldev Singh and Colonel Jais Rawat, staff officer of Gen Prasad, were the other officers injured. They have also been flown to the Army Hospital in Srinagar for treatment.

The attack took place at around 1315 hours IST when the holed-up terrorist opened fire and lobbed grenades, defence sources said.

Brigadier Goyal was seriously injured in the attack and succumbed soon after, they said.

Gen Prasad, Gen Brar, Brigadier Singh and Col Rawat sustained shrapnel injuries, they said.

The terrorist was later killed at around 1440 hours IST by the armymen. His two associates were gunned down earlier while a search was on for the possible fourth accomplice.

Union Defence Minister George Fernandes is flying to Jammu on Wednesday to take stock of the situation.

Fernandes, apart from meeting the army top brass, will also meet state officials.

Meanwhile, army chief General N C Vij dashed to Jammu.