Suicide attack at BSF camp

2 || risingbd.com

Published: 03:42, 3 October 2017 Update: 15:18, 26 July 2020

International Desk: Heavily-armed suicide attackers stormed a Border Security Force (BSF) camp near the Srinagar airport and an air force station before daybreak today, leaving three soldiers wounded.

One terrorist has been killed. Firing is still on and more terrorist believed to be hiding inside the BSF campus. Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Terrorists - there were reportedly four - breached four layers of security at BSF's 182 battalion at 3.45 am and fired indiscriminately, an officer said. The soldiers retaliated and shot down one of the attackers. Gunfire and explosions were heard for hours as the forces, including Quick Action Teams and Special Operations Group, tried to corner the terrorists.

"We know the exact location of the terrorists, the situation is under control," said top police officer Munir Khan.

The injured soldiers have been taken out of the camp safely and are now in hospital. Operations were stopped for around three hours at the Srinagar airport.

Helicopters are hovering over the area. "Intermittent firing exchanges are going on. The area has been cordoned off," the officer said, adding Special Forces have been called in.

The routes leading to the airport were sealed and all morning flights were suspended. Visuals showed cars of air travelers lined up all the way to the airport.

The BSF camp is situated close to the Srinagar Civil and Technical airport. The BSF guards one side of the airport's outer ring.

Besides the only civilian airport in the city, the technical airport used by Armed Forces and VIPs is also in the vicinity. The area also houses training centres of the BSF and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

There has been a spurt in infiltration attempts by terrorists from across the border over the past few weeks.

Last year in September, 19 soldiers were killed when terrorists from Pakistan attacked an army base in Uri. A few days later, the army carried out surgical strikes across the Line of Control targeting staging areas for terrorists planning to attack Indian cities.