3 militants, 1 civilian killed in Kupwara army camp attack

Defence spokesman Lt Col N N Joshi said: “The searches are still on. Three AK rifles were recovered from the possession of slain militants.’’ He said the militants couldn’t sneak inside the camp, but fired some grenades that caused fire in the part of the camp where oil was stored.

Five months ago, the Army killed four armed militants in the town that is otherwise considered free of militancy due to large presence of Army personnel on account of its proximity to the LoC. Sources said Wednesday’s attack left the army worried as militants had managed to come close to the camp.

Officials said that around 6 am, three heavily armed militants tried to enter the camp located in the main Tanghdar town. They attacked an army officer and a civilian employee of Army’s Military Engineering Service who were in the camp’s generator room. Both were evacuated to hospital, where 22-year-old Tanveer Ahmad, a resident of Tanghdar, succumbed to his injuries. The injured Junior Commissioned Officer is undergoing treatment at the Army hospital at Dragmulla Kupwara.

Sources said the militants approached the camp from the rear side, placed some IEDs near the camp and fired grenades towards the oil depot that caused a fire in the camp. Some barracks and vehicles were damaged in the fire. The fire, officials said, was later brought under control.

The Army’s Quick Action Team responded swiftly and engaged the militants who took cover in the nearby Darshik forests. Para Commandos were called and the militants were killed after an eight-hour gunfight.

Officials said it was possible that the militants had crossed the LoC through the Kalsuri range and then approached the camp from its rear side.

A senior Army officer said Wednesday’s attack was an attempt to replicate last year’s attack at Mohura in Uri near the LoC when militants attacked an artillery base killing eight soldiers, including an officer, and three policemen. All the six militants were killed in that attack.