'If Pakistanis have chosen war. Let's go for it,' Vijender and other Indian sport stars raise voice against Uri attack

Indian sportspersons slammed the terror attacks on an Indian army brigade headquarters near the de factor border with Pakistan on Sunday which killed 17 soldiers in one of the most deadly attacks in the northern region of Kashmir in a quarter-century-old insurgency.

Four "fidayeen" - or commando-style gunmen willing to fight to the death - were confirmed killed after penetrating the base in Uri near the Line of Control (LOC) with Pakistan.

Here's how the sporting fraternity of the country reacted to the disgraceful incident:

Very very heartbroken to hear about #UriAttack
They are not Rebels,they are Terrorists.
Terrorism must be answered appropriately

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) September 18, 2016

Very sad news 17 soldiers martyred my condolence to the family #UriAttack if Pakistanis have chosen war.Let go for it #IndianArmy

— Vijender Singh (@boxervijender) September 18, 2016

Shocked by the #UriAttack. I salute the martyrs and hope we take strong action against those who perpetrated this cowardly attack.

— Manoj Tiwary (@tiwarymanoj) September 18, 2016

गद्दारों के महल बन गए .. मुंह ढँककर सियासत सोती रही।
उन्होंने शहीद कहकर फुसला लिया .. बेवा मुआवजे को रोती रही।#UriAttack

— Yogeshwar Dutt (@DuttYogi) September 18, 2016

India shows restrain-Pakistan shows disdain. We offer solutions-they reply with ammunitions. Our soldiers die-they deny. No more. #uriattack

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) September 18, 2016

Television reporters at the scene said the dawn raid had surprised soldiers in their sleep. The attackers set fire to one building before the four were killed in a gunfight that lasted several hours.

An army spokesman confirmed that the number of soldiers killed in the attack had risen to 17, making the toll far worse than a similar raid on an army base in Punjab state in January that India has blamed on Pakistan-based militants.

(Inputs from Reuters)