20 killed in J&K militant attacks

Overall, 8 Indian Army soldiers, 6 militants and 3 cops  died in the Uri incident.

While an another encounter, which took place in Srinagar, ended where two foreign militants were killed and in another incident one civilian was killed and several others were injured as unknown masked persons hurled grenade in Tral town of Pulwama district of south Kashmir.

Armed militants entered into 31 Field Regiment Ordinance Camp in Uri sector at around 3:30 in the morning and opened fire and lobbed grenades everywhere that created panic inside the camp.

Three policemen, including a Sub-Inspector, was killed in the attack.

The six- hour- long fierce gun-battle claimed 17 lives, including 8 Army soldiers, 6 militants and 3 policemen.

Many army soldiers received burn injuries after they got trapped in a barrack that caught fire due to the militant attack, reports said.

Sources in Defence told IBNS that militants were heavily armed and well equipped who opened a heavy dimension of fire with automatic weapons.

He said that soon after the deadly attack, the troopers from the neighboring camps immediately mobilized their Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs), who rushed to spot, surrounded it and neutralized all the six militants.

In Soura in the outskirts of the city, top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Qari Israr was killed by security personnel when he was trying to enter the city, police said.

Police termed the killing of two militants including a foreign national as a big success and said that slain militant was involved in many cases related to killing and attacks on security forces.

Meanwhile, unknown persons lobbed a grenade in Tral town resulting in the death of a civilian and injured dozens.

The terror strikes are now supposedly seen as an endeavour to disrupt the peaceful Assembly polls that are being held in Jammu and Kashmir.

The first two phases of polling have seen a heavy turnout. Results will be declared on December 23.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack and tweeted: "Attacks in J&K are condemnable. They are desperate attempts to derail the atmosphere of hope & goodwill as seen by increased voter turnout."

"125 crore Indians bow to our brave Army men who sacrificed their lives. These men lived & died for the nation. We won't forget them," he said.

Reacting to the attacks, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh blamed Pakistan for the terror strikes.

"If Pakistan can't stop these attacks, let it take India's help," he said.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has also condemned the attacks strongly.

"My heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed in the 4 attacks today. I hope @HMOIndia takes steps to plug the gaps in C I grid. It's been a terrible day - 4 attacks & a number of deaths - security forces & innocent civilians killed in the valley today," Abdullah tweeted.

"Militants have struck an army camp in North Kashmir between Baramulla & Uri. Security force casualties are feared. It's an ongoing encounter. JK Police & army are responding to the attack in Uri. Once again shows the desperate levels militants will go to to disrupt peace & normalcy," he tweeted earlier in the day.

In Delhi, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said, "We have killed three of them (militants) and we will eliminate the remaining.The ones who are left are trapped."

"It is possible that this has happened because of elections," he said.

Earlier on November 27, three soldiers and five civilians were killed as a group of terrorists crossed over, opened fire at an army column on patrol and entered an unused bunker in the Arnia sector of Jammu.

Four militants were also killed in a counter firing by the army jawans.

In fact on Wednesday, a major Infiltration bid was foiled by the Army in state's Naugam area. Six heavily armed terrorists were killed.

(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)