KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
After seventeen army men were killed in a major attack near Line of Control in North Kashmir, Indian Defence Minister and Army Chief rushed to troubled Kashmir.
Four suspected militants died in the early Sunday morning attack which left at least 28 army men injured as well. They were airlifted to 92 Base Hospital of Army in Badambagh Srinagar.
The Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar and Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh took stock of the on-going operations and reviewed the overall security situation in Kashmir.
A defence spokesperson said that the duo was briefed by the Northern Army and Chinar Corps Commanders Lt Gen DS Hooda and Lt Gen Satish Dua, respectively at Srinagar following the Uri attack.
“While three of the four heavily armed militants were killed within the initial fifteen minutes of establishing contact, the fourth was neutralized later and four AK 47 rifles and equal number of UBGLs along with other war like stores were recovered from them,” the spokesperson said.
The defence spokesperson further said, “13 of 17 army men were killed as they were trapped in the tents and shelters that caught fire due to the explosives used by the militants.”
The Defence Minster was briefed about the security grid along the LoC and the hinterland also covering the deployment and employment of the additional forces that have been recently inducted into the Valley.
“The need for heightened vigil both on the LC and hinterland and to remain prepared for any developing was stressed upon. There have been a number of infiltration attempts that the Army has foiled recently. It may be recalled that in the last one week itself, three such attempts were foiled in Kupwara Sector when four militants were killed and another group of four militants was killed in Poonch,” the spokesperson said.
On being briefed about the internal security situation in the hinterland, the Indian Army Chief reiterated the importance of “complete synergy amongst all security, intelligence and other government agencies to ensure calm and prevent the militants and other inimical forces from moving with impunity and intimidating the populace”.
Earlier, the Army Chief flew to Uri to get a first-hand account where he was briefed on the latest situation by the Commanders on ground.
“The Defence Minister and Army Chief later met the injured army men at the Army Base Hospital in BB Cantonment. They expressed their deep grief and condolences over the loss and wished speedy recovery to the injured,” the spokesperson added. “The Raksha Mantri has directed that the mortal remains of all the slain army troopers would be transported directly to their respective hometowns for which arrangements are being made.” (KNS)
