PM strongly condemns terror attack in Uri
“We strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack in Uri. I assure the nation that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished.
We salute all those martyred in Uri. Their service to the nation will always be remembered. My thoughts are with the bereaved families.
Have spoken to Home Minister and Raksha Mantri on the situation. Raksha Mantri will go to J&K himself to take stock of the situation”, the Prime Minister said.
Seventeen soldiers were killed in a major terror attack at an army administrative base in Jammu and Kashmir’s Uri near the Line of Control this morning, the deadliest in recent years. All four terrorists have been killed.
The terrorists, said to be fidayeen or a suicide squad, sneaked into the base around 4 am, threw grenades and started firing indiscriminately.
The grenade attack instantly killed most soldiers sleeping in tents that caught fire. Visuals showed smoke rising from the base on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway.
“The administrative base had large strength of troops of units turning over after their tour of duty who were stationed in tents/temporary shelters which caught fire, and resulted in heavy casualties. We salute the sacrifice of 17 soldiers who were martyred in the operation,” the army said in a statement.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh postponed a visit to Russia and the US that was to have started today. He is holding an emergency meeting with senior officials.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is also heading to Uri. Army Chief Dalbir Singh has reached Srinagar to review the situation .
At least a dozen soldiers were critically injured in a six-hour gun battle with the terrorists who are believed to have infiltrated last evening into Uri.
This is the highest casualty the army has suffered in a single attack in years. In January, seven military personnel were killed when six terrorists attacked the high security Pathankot air base and opened fire.
More than 80 people have been killed in Kashmir and around 10,000 civilians and security personnel have been injured in clashes since July 8, when terrorist Burhan Wani was killed.
Uri houses the army’s brigade headquarters. The attack took place at a time units were turning over; a different brigade was replacing the current one.
A top government source called the attack “a part of Pakistan’s larger game plan to spread unrest in Jammu and Kashmir”.
We strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack in Uri. I assure the nation that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 18, 2016
Sources say at least nine more soldiers critical, death toll may rise #UriAttack https://t.co/MN9SZHpBk0 pic.twitter.com/XAagTNlnmh
— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) September 18, 2016
Strongly condemn the militant attack on Army base in Uri. My heartfelt condolences to the families of the bravehearts martyred in the attack
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) September 18, 2016
4 terrorists attack Army headquarters in Uri, fierce gunfight on
For more updates: https://t.co/TIubgsf5Cu pic.twitter.com/vfhwSKcocU
— Times of India (@timesofindia) September 18, 2016
