Uri Terror Attack: 17 Soldiers Martyred, 4 Terrorists Killed; India Blames Pakistan, Jaish-e-Mohammed

Uri (Jammu and Kashmir): In one of the worst attacks on a military centre in J&K in a decade, four terrorists sneaked into an army camp in Uri town early on Sunday and martyred 17 soldiers even as the heavily-armed militants were killed at the end of a two-and-half hour gun battle.

Over two dozen soldiers were also injured in the attack after the militants barged into the camp near Uri town at 5.30 a.m. and started firing indiscriminately, military officials said.

Initial reports indicate the role of JeM. 4 AK47, grenades, grenade launchers etc have been recovered from the dead terrorists. They carried items with Pakistani markings," DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh added.

Singh said that he has already apprised the DGMO Pakistan about the incident and conveyed India's sentiments over the issue.

According to Singh, 14 out of 17 soldiers were martyred after the militants hurled grenades at a tent in which the soldiers were sleeping.

Uri is close to the Line of Control (LoC), which divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan. The camp is close to the headquarters of army's 12 Brigade.

Modi refrained from saying who was to blame for the bloodbath but Home Minister Rajnath Singh held Pakistan responsible.

According to military sources, the terrorists entered the camp from the rear after cutting the barbed wire fencing -- without the sentries getting alerted.

After entering the camp, the gunmen resorted to indiscriminate automatic gunfire from AK-47 rifles after quickly spreading in different directions inside to inflict maximum damage.

The sneak attack sent huge columns of black smoke rising into the sky.

A terse statement issued by the Northern Command based at Udhampur said "heavily armed terrorists targeted the rear administrative base of a unit at Uri.

Read more: Uri Terror Attack Attempt to Destabilise Jammu & Kashmir: Govt

"In the counter action, four terrorists have been eliminated and combing operations are in progress. The administrative base had a large strength of troops of units turning over after their tour of duty who were stationed in tents/temporary shelters which caught fire and resulted in heavy casualties. We salute the sacrifices of 17 soldiers who were martyred in the operation," the statement read.

Unofficial sources said most of the dead soldiers were from the Bihar Regiment. Two soldiers of the Dogra Regiment also died.

Read: Those Behind Uri Terror Attack Won't go Unpunished, Says PM Modi

A military expert, retired Lt. Gen. Raj Kadyan, said it was time to teach Pakistan a lesson.

Calling the attack the "most serious in the last decade", he said: "The response required today is a tough one. The army should launch a strike at a place and time of its choosing. Retribution should be quick and severe."

Helicopters flew the injured soldiers from Uri to the army's base hospital in Srinagar, about 70 km away.

Read: Uri Terror Attack: Pakistan Is a Terrorist State Says Rajnath Singh

Within hours, army chief General Dalbir Singh and Defence minister Manohar Parrikar flew to Srinagar and then went to Uri.

Meanwhile the political slugfest began following the attack with Opposition leaders targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not giving a befitting reply to Pakistan.

RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav fired the first salvo and said, "I condemn the terror attack. Our soldiers are dying due to the ignorance of Narendra Modi. This should be handled very firmly now. I salute all the martyrs. Narendra Modiji has failed."

Congress leader Manish Tewari too questioned the government's Pakistan policy and said,"What has happened in Uri is wrong and condemnable. The Indian government should sit back and think about its various options being used. They need to rethink their strategy of isolating Pakistan."

Condemning the attack, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said India cannot be "cowed down" by such incidents.

Deputy Chief Minister and senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia too condemned the attack and termed the attack as a failure of diplomacy.

"This is a difficult time. The army still has the best means (to deal with such situation), but this is a grave failure of diplomacy. Someone should take responsibility for it," Sisodia said.