Soldier martyred in fidayeen attack at army camp in Jammu

A soldier was killed while seven others, including family members of army personnel, were injured as a group of fidayeen (suicide) militants stormed an army camp in Sunjwan area on outskirts of Jammu city on Saturday.

Sources said two to three heavily armed militants, believed to be fidayeen, in a pre-dawn attack stormed Sunjwan army camp in Jammu city at around 4:55 am and opened a heavy volume of fire resulting in injuries to seven persons. They include an army major, two troopers, two women and two children. One of the injured troopers later succumbed to injuries at the hospital, reports said.

"All the attackers later entered inside the camp of 36 Brigade and engaged the troops in a gun battle. Intermittent firing is still going on. Three fidayeen are believed to be inside the army camp. The area has been cordoned off and high alert has been issued in Jammu," they said.

State police chief Shesh Pal Vaid said the militants entered from the rear side of Sunjwan Army camp where family quarters are located.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu SD Singh Jamwal said that the militants have been trapped in one of the buildings. "Around 4:55 am suspicious movement was noticed by the sentry and his bunker was fired upon, the fire was retaliated. The number of militants isn't known, they've been cornered in one of the family quarters," he told reporters.

The attack is believed to be carried out by Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists. The army camp, spread over many acres, lies in the heart of Jammu along the Jammu-Pathankot highway. It has residential quarters as well as schools inside.

The administration has ordered the closure of all educational institutions within 500 metres of the camp. In 2003, militants had carried the attack in the same area in which 12 soldiers lost their lives and seven others were injured.

Pertinently, there was an intelligence input about the possible attack by 'Afzal-Guru squad' of Jaish on the fifth death anniversary of Afzal Guru, who was hanged in Tihar Jail on February 9, 2013.