HIGHLIGHTS: Soldier, 3 militants killed in attack on BSF camp near Srinagar airport

Suicide attackers of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terror outfit carrying guns and explosives stormed a BSF camp on Tuesday morning near the highly secured Srinagar international airport, triggering a gun battle that left three militants and a trooper dead, officials said.

The officials said the militants broke into the Humhama-based 182 Battalion BSF camp around 4.30 am on Tuesday.

The attackers breached four layers of security in the highly-protected area housing the Srinagar international airport and a posh neighbourhood where many of the state’s who’s who live.

This is the first militant attack in nearly 30 years of militancy that occurred so close to the airport. Two militants were killed in the gunbattle near the airport.

Highlights:

2.50pm: At a press conference on the attack, Kashmir IG Munir Khan said that terrorists sneaked in in the dark and one was killed at the time. Khan said the other two terrorists involved in the attack were neutralised during the operation.

He said that the BSF fought off the attack effectively and the operation was well-coordinated. He also said that there was no security lapse at the BSF camp.

“Unfortunate we lost one ASI. Three jawans were injured but they are out of danger,” he informed.

The IG said there was no collateral damage to civilians. He said that the airport was not attacked but that one flight was diverted.

Khan said there was no doubt that the terrorists were from Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Asserting that the attack was not a setback, he said, “Request media to be reasonable before running news,as such attacks will continue to happen as long as Pakistan is our neigbour.”

He said there was a manhunt on for 6-7 terrorists and that they needed to be neutralised fast.

1:49pm: Jammu and Kashmir police spokesperson confirms that the third militant has been killed.

1:06pm: “Two bodies of terrorist have been retrieved, one jawan has also been killed. One terrorist is still holed up in the administrative block of the camp, “ DGP told HT.

Six people have been evacuated from the camp. “Five people have been evacuated from S.O (officers) Mess where the second terrorist was neutralised and one person from the administrative block where the third terrorist is holed up,” said Vaid.

12:15pm:

11:30 am: Security forces responded promptly to Srinagar terror attack and ensured there is no collateral damage to civilians, says minister of state Jitendra Singh.

10:30 am: BSF assistant sub-inspector killed in the militant attack, PTI quotes BSF officials.

10:15 am: Unconfirmed reports say a third militant has been killed in the operation.

9:45 am: Two militants are holed up in the administrative building and the JCO Mess. Operation is underway and senior officers are monitoring it: Deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh tells ANI

9:30 am: Police confirm the second militant has been killed and the operation is on.

Out-station bound passengers allowed towards Srinagar airport.

9 am: Unconfirmed reports say another militant has been killed. It is unclear how many militants are holed up.

8:40 am: Passengers are now being allowed into the Srinagar airport but flights have not been resumed.

8:15 am: Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad claims responsibility for the attack.

JeM was behind the August attack on a police complex with residential buildings in southern Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Four policemen and an equal number of paramilitary troopers were killed in the pre-dawn attack. Police had warned that the group was planning more such attacks on security forces in Kashmir.

What we know so far:

• A body suspected to be that of a militant was found. The identity is yet to ascertained, director general of police SP Vaid said.

• The militants are holed up inside the building campus of the 182nd Battalion camp, BSF officials said.

• Airport operations have been suspended as the security forces were fighting militants who had breached into the 182 battalion headquarters of BSF located in Gogoland, police said.

• This battalion is entrusted with security of runway of the Srinagar airport.

• Adjacent to the camp is the old Srinagar air field which is been run by the Indian Air force. The area also houses training centres of the BSF and CRPF.

(With agency inputs)