Death toll in Sunjuwan attack climbs to 7 after another soldier's body recovered

The death toll in the Sunjuwan Army Camp attack has climbed to seven after body of another soldier was recovered during search operations on Monday.

"Yesterday one more body recovered. And now the casualties are six Soldiers and one civilian," said Lieutenant Colonel Devender Anand, defence spokesman at Jammu.

Five of the martyrs belong to the Kashmir valley. Wreath laying ceremony for the martyrs was held at the Airport at 10:30 before they were airlifted to Srinagar for their onward journey to their native villages.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also attended the ceremony. ‘Transport of mortal remains of five martyrs from Jammu will likely start at 11am to Srinagar Airport  and thereafter to respective native places", said Lieutenant Colonel Anand.

Six soldiers and father of one trooper was killed and 10 others injured when Jaish e Mohammad fidayeens stormed the highly fortified 36 Brigade headquarters of Army at Sunjuwan in Jammu on Saturday. Three fidayeens were also neutralized

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitaraman said three terrorists have been eliminated although there was information of four terrorists in the area. “It is likely that fourth terrorist was a guide and may not have entered the premises. Jaish-e-Mohammad (ultras) who conducted the attack may have infiltrated some time back and there is possibility of them having enjoyed some local support before the final operations,” she said. 

Sitaraman said the operation was done deliberately because the militants were wearing combat fatigues and had similar appearance to their possible target victims.

“Since the terrorists were dressed in battle fatigues and had similar appearance to their possible target victims the operation had to be done deliberately to eliminate the possibility of any mistaken identity and collateral damage. The operations entailed a deliberate search of 26 blocks and safe evacuation of families from 189 flats which was time consuming and challenging task. This was successfully achieved with no fatal casualties to our troops conducting the counter terrorist operations”, she said.

Defence Minister said intelligence inputs indicate that these terrorists were being controlled by handlers across the border