Militants attack police station, army camp in J&K; five killed

JAMMU: Heavily-armed militants dressed in army fatigues on Thursday attacked a police station in Kathua, killing five persons, including four policemen, before targeting an army camp in nearby Samba, in a terror strike 72 hours ahead of a meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif.

Three militants barged into the Hiranagar Police Station in Kathua near Jammu-Pathankot National Highway around 06:45 hours and indiscriminately fired after hurling a grenade, police said.

Four cops, including an Assistant Sub-Inspector, were killed and another ASI was injured in the attack that also left a civilian dead.


DIG Shakeel Baig said five persons have been killed in the suicide attack.

The militants later intercepted a truck on the highway, boarded it and forced its driver to move towards Jammu, they said.

The militants stopped the vehicle near the gate of an Army camp in Samba, 40 kms from here, and attacked the camp.

According to initial reports, two to three army jawans have been injured in the firing by the militants, who later barged inside the army camp.

A heavy gunbattle is going on, the DIG, who is supervising the operation on the spot, said.

The attack comes a day after the Prime Minister left for the US where he is scheduled to meet Sharif on Sunday for talks which have been opposed by BJP.

This morning's attack is seen as a bid to derail the meeting from across the border. In New Delhi, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said, "We are in the process of inquiring into the attacks".

Giving details of the attacks, IGP, Jammu region, Rajesh Kumar said in the first strike in Kathua, three-four militants came in an autorickshaw and killed the guard at the police station.

They then barged into the police station where they killed three persons, he said.

"Subsequently, they took a truck and injured the truck driver on the spot. Then they headed towards the national highway along with the truck driver.

"After sometime they abandoned the truck. They may have taken another vehicle from there and reached the army camp in Samba. The encounter is going on. Additional forces of CRPF, army and police are there," Kumar said.

Sources in Delhi said a 16 Cavalry formation is stationed in Samba.

Condemning the attacks, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Obdullah said the aim of terrorists is to "derail" the proposed dialogue between the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan.

Talking to reporters in Sringar, Omar held forces inimical to the interest of peace in Kashmir responsible for the dastardly attack.

In New Delhi, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said, "We are in the process of inquiring into the attacks".

Giving details of the attacks, IGP, Jammu region, Rajesh Kumar said in the first strike in Kathua, three to four militants came in an autorickshaw and killed the guard at the police station.

They then barged into the police station where they killed three persons, he said.

"Subsequently, they took a truck and injured the truck driver on the spot. Then they headed towards the national highway along with the truck driver.

"After sometime they abandoned the truck. They may have taken another vehicle from there and reached the army camp in Samba. The encounter is going on. Additional forces of CRPF, army and police are there," Kumar said.

Sources in Delhi said a 16 Cavalry formation is stationed in Samba.

The attacks were condemned by BJP which said it showed that Pakistan is continuing with its strategy to strike at will through proxy war of terror.

"The Prime Minister had himself assured the nation through both Houses of Parliament after 26/11 and after beheading of two soldiers that second time we will not hold talks with Pakistan till it takes minimal action against terror," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.

"But what are we seeing today that Pakistan land is being used to attack and conduct terror attacks in India," he said.