Militants believed to be Pak nationals

The six suicide attackers in the garrison town of Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district are believed to be Pakistanis who had recently infiltrated the Line of Control (LoC).

Sources told Deccan Herald that though the exact number of militants who had infiltrated is not known. However, it is clear that Friday’s attackers are all Pakistanis.

“The militants who carried today’s attack were clad in kameez-salwar (ethnic tunic-trousers) and heavily armed with AK-47 rifles, hand grenades and other ammunition,” sources said, adding the militants were part of the group which infiltrated after Assembly elections commences in the state on November 25.

During Friday’s attack, 11 security personnel including, Lt Colonel Sankalp Kumar of 24 Punjab Regiment of Raipur, were killed. The attack comes just three days ahead of elections in Uri and six other constituencies under Baramulla district on December 9.

The Uri section of the LoC is significant for being the transit point for the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service and trading between two parts of Kashmir. Though Uri was known infiltration route in early 90’s, in the last several years no major infiltration had been reported.

Sources said another group of six militants who had been asked to carry out a similar attack was earlier this week eliminated by the Army in Nowgam sector of Kupwara district when they were crossing the LoC.

A senior police officer wishing anonymity said that after the huge turnout in first two phases of Assembly elections, militant leadership and their handlers across the border have become desperate. “They have formed a few fidayeen groups to carry out suicide attacks throughout the state to instill fear among voters,” he said.

Last week a similar attack was carried out in Arnia sector of Jammu region near the international border in which 12 people including three soldiers, four militants and five civilians were killed.