Srinagar: Four terror attacks have been reported from Kashmir since early Friday. Eleven members of the security forces were killed in a suicide attack on an army artillery camp in Kashmir’s Uri sector as militants stepped up violence in a state that is in the midst of elections.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh slammed Pakistan for the repeated incidents in the valley. Pakistan gives shelter to terrorists, it should answer for that,” he said.
TV reports say Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag has briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said security forces were responding to attacks in J&K appropriately. “Definitely there are elements in the Valley to destabilise election process; attacks are unfortunate,†Rijiju said.
In the second incident in Srinagar, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to campaign on Monday, two militants intercepted at a police post opened fire. One of them was killed but firing is still on.
In the third attack, reports said militants hurled a grenade at the Shopian police station in south Kashmir. No one was injured in the attack and the police have launched a combing operation in the area.​
Uri, near the Line of Control, is around 100 kilometres (60 miles) northwest of Srinagar. Eight soldiers, including an officer, and three policemen are reported dead. Six militants were also killed.
On Tuesday, the third phase of staggered voting will be held in Uri and neighbouring areas.
Abdul Ghani Mir, a state police officer, said five police and soldiers were killed in Friday morning’s terror strike. Three attackers were also killed, he said, but it was not yet known if more were involved.
Separatists have called for a boycott of the election and militants have stepped up attacks after a lull of months, but voters have turned out in record numbers on the two days of voting held so far, braving freezing temperatures and long lines. Results will be counted on December 23.
Led by an expansive campaign by the Prime Minister, the BJP is making its most serious bid yet to win power for the first time in the state, banking on votes in the Hindu-majority Jammu and Buddhist Ladakh areas. It is also capitalising on the rise of independents and splits elsewhere in Muslim-majority Kashmir.