Sources said that one of the terrorists had forcibly entered a civilian home and taken the family hostage
Days before the first anniversary of India's surgical strikes, the Army thwarted an Uri-type terrorist attack when it intercepted a group of newly-infiltrated terrorists before they could unleash mayhem in Kashmir's Kalgai village along the Line of Control (LoC).
Three terrorists were killed in the ensuing gunbattle in the Uri sector, and several villagers trapped at the encounter site were rescued by security forces.
Sources said that one of the terrorists had forcibly entered a civilian home and taken the family hostage. Another terrorist had taken refuge in a local mosque where he was gunned down by a Jammu and Kashmir Police team. All terrorists are believed to be Pakistani nationals. Three AK series rifles were recovered.
The Indian Army had carried out surgical strikes against terror launchpads across the LOC in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) on September 29, 2016.
Four terrorists had stormed the 12 Infantry Brigade Headquarters in Uri, killing 18 soldiers and injuring 20 others, 10 days before the surgical strikes. All the Pakistani terrorists had been killed in a fierce gunfight.
A year after, Pakistan tried to repeat Uri by sending infiltrators to unleash bloodbath. However, the Army spotted their movement, and an operation was immediately planned. The entire area was cordoned off at 10.30 pm on Saturday.
At around 2.30 am on Sunday, when troops were zeroing in on the target, the terrorists, hiding in the area, fired, triggering an encounter. Security forces, however, moved in a calibrated manner and rescued the civilians trapped there before taking on the terrorists. A civilian is reported to have suffered splinter injuries.
Later, security forces launched an offensive. One terrorist was killed in the initial burst, while two others were gunned down after a few hours. "Infiltration bid foiled in Uri Sector. Two armed intruders killed. Operations in progress", tweeted the Northern Command of the Indian army.
The Director General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Shesh Paul Vaid, said that a major tragedy has been averted as the terrorists had a plan to repeat Uri. "They had the same plan like last year's suicide attack on the Army base," said Dr Vaid.
In a separate incident, a Special Police Officer (SPO) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police displayed exemplary bravery when he tossed back a live grenade hurled by terrorists at police vehicle in Sopore Township. The police said the lives of many police and CRPF personnel, besides those of civilians, were saved. Sources said seven people including two cops and one CRPF jawan suffered minor injuries.
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