Indian Army unit attacked in Jammu
Indian Army soldiers lost lives at the encounter
Indian soldiers were killed in an attack by heavily-armed men in the most recent incident in Jammu and Kashmir.
In an artillery unit compound situated in Jammu, in the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, seven Indian soldiers were killed yesterday. The compound, located close to the Corps Headquarters in Nargota, which is situated on the outskirts of the Jammu city, was the latest site to be targeted after recent attacks on army bases in the bordering states of the country. Two officers and five jawans lost their lives and a few security men injured, after which three attackers were killed in separate encounters by the forces. Four soldiers were killed in the first round of firing and the remaining three were killed during a rescue operation. An initial offensive was launched after which a hostage-like situation occurred in a camp in the headquarters. “The terrorists entered two buildings, occupied by officers and families. This led to a hostage-like situation. All, including 12 soldiers, two children and two women, were rescued. However, one officer and two jawans were killed in the operation,” said a spokesman for the Northern command of the Army. After eight hours of heavy exchange of fire, security forces managed to kill three terrorists, however, the number of militants who entered the army premises could not be confirmed.
Manish Mehta, the Defence PRO, shared with the press in Jammu that bodies of three militants were recovered from the premises and combing operations were underway. “The terrorists entered the premises disguised in police uniforms and launched indiscriminate firing with heavy war-like ammunition,” added Mehta, describing the attack. An infiltration attempt, that was later stopped, occurred at the same time the Chambliyal border outpost was attacked in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, which is situated 40 km away from Nagrota. However, links between the two attacks remain a matter of speculation.
Policy failure?
Assurances from the government and particularly the defence ministry have not translated to reality, and with the rising incidents of cross-border violations and terror attacks since the Uri attack and subsequent “surgical strikes”, citizens remain insecure. Although the demonetization policy has been in force for only a few weeks and a wholesome assessment of its effects remain to be seen, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar claimed only a few days ago, claiming that demonetisation has stopped money being fed to terrorists and criminals. Referring to the “surgical strikes” conducted by the Indian army, he added, “We have been giving a tit-for-tat to the enemy along the border. The country’s borders are now completely secure.” These claims remain unsubstantiated and a call for an effective policy has emerged, with opposition leaders raising questions, asking for more accountability and need for revisiting strategy n security from border infiltration and terror attacks.
Sitaram Yechury, a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) questioned the claims of the government.
The PM and Defence Minister constantly claim that India safer under them. Is it actually true? Where does the buck stop for these failures?
— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) November 30, 2016
Senior Journalist and author Rajdeep Sardesai shared his views on Twitter
3 major attacks on army camps in 2016; tough, mature nations need to respond with less talk more action. Agree?
— RajdeepSardesai (@sardesairajdeep) November 29, 2016
Preeti Sharma Menon, a member of the Aam Admi Party in India questioned the efficiency of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is referred to chappan inch or 56 inches as he has claimed to have a chest size of the same measure.
My skin crawls when Sanghis offer hollow ‘Salutes’ to the martyrs. First answer why they were killed? What is chappan inch doing?
#Nagrota— Preeti Sharma Menon (@PreetiSMenon) November 30, 2016
