Highlights: ASI, three militants killed in attack on BSF camp near Srinagar airport; JeM claims responsibility
October 03,2017
Suspected fidayeen attacked the Border Security Force (BSF) 182nd Battalion camp near the Srinagar International Airport in the early hours of Tuesday. An Assistant Sub-Inspector was killed and four security personnel injured in the attack. Forces gunned down three militants as well. The Jaish-e-Mohammad, the Pakistan-based militant outfit, claimed responsibility for the attack, news agency PTI reported.
The airport, which was initially cordoned off, was re-opened for civilians flying out of Srinagar. Flight services resumed as well. Schools in the vicinity, however, will remain closed on Tuesday.
BSF camp attack highlights:
3.30 pm: The operation has come to an end as all the three militants have been neutralised.
2.45 pm: In a joint press conference in Srinagar, security forces confirmed that the attack at the BSF camp was carried out by the Jaish-e-Mohammad militant outfit. The militants entered the camp by cutting the fence between Defence Colony and Gogoland. The combined efforts between the forces helped eliminate the militants successfully. The operation could have ended quicker if aerial weapons were used, however, due to the presence of civilians it was avoided. Forces are now looking for at least seven militants, who need to be eliminated “very fast”.
2.41 pm: Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has complimented security forces for successfully eliminating militants at the BSF camp. “I have spoken to the DG CRPF and DG BSF. It was a good operation that they have conducted,” he is quoted as saying by PTI.
2.40 pm: “JeM is a threat because the cadres believe in these kind of activities, like attacking the camps. We have to be prepared for such attacks,” he adds.
2.35 pm: Regarding flight services, Khan says, “Only one flight was delayed from New Delhi. We wanted to make sure no terrorist sneaked into the airport as the operation started when it was pitch dark. The area has been sanitised.”
2.33 pm: “Average security camp is a highly guarded place… we cannot say that because the attack happened here it is an important facility. We conduct security drills at all camps. This is not a setback and the attack has been repelled,” Khan says. He adds that the NIA was never housed in the building.
2.32 pm: The IG adds, “Some reported that the attack was at the airport… (media) should be careful and responsible while reporting such things. You must get a confirmation first…these things have major ramifications. I request you to please be reasonable.”
2.30 pm: Adding that the attack was conducted by JeM militants, the IG J&K police Munir Khan says the militants cut the fencing between the extension of Defence Colony and Gogoland.
2.29 pm: “This operation was a quality example of cooperation between the forces. They operated in a coordinated manner, which is why it ended soon. It could have ended quickly using aerial weapons, but due to the presence of civilians it was avoided,” IG of J&K Police says.
2.27 pm: “Search began for the two terrorists and both of them were eliminated after brief gunfire. One was hiding in administrative block. All compliments to BSF troops who intially repelled the terrorists attack,” forces brief the media in Srinagar.
2.22 pm: The J&K Police, CRPF and BSF are holding a joint press conference. “We lost one ASI of the BSF and three others sustained injuries; the three are stable.”
2.00 pm: Here is what we know about the operation at the Border Security Force (BSF) camp: Three militants who stormed the 182nd Battalion camp and were holed up in a building on campus have been killed. Security personnel are conducting a combing operation in the campus. An Assistant Sub-Inspector was killed in the operation and four security personnel were wounded. The Jaish-e-Mohammad militant outfit earlier claimed responsibility for the attack.
1.58 pm: All three militants holed up in the BSF camp have been killed. Security forces, are now conducting a combing operation, reports ANI.
1.50 pm: A third militant has been killed by security forces, confirms the J&K Police on Twitter.
1.34 pm: Gun battle is still underway between security forces and militants at the 182nd BSF Battalion camp near the Srinagar International Airport. According to reports, at least one militant is still holed up in one of the buildings on campus. So far, two militants have been killed.
12.47 pm: Calling the attack at the BSF camp “madness”, Olympic medalist Yogeshwar Dutt condemns it. Taking to Twitter, the wrestler said terror attacks have become common and have spread across the world like a cancer.
12.43 pm: According to PTI, a caller identifying himself as spokesman of JeM, told a local news agencies that its militants carried out the attack.
12.20 pm: This is what we know so far: A group of militants stormed the BSF 182nd Battalion camp near the Srinagar International Airport at around 4.oo on Tuesday morning in an attempted suicide attack. In the operation that followed, security forces killed two militants. An Assistant Sub-Inspector was killed, which four security personnel were wounded. The Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit claimed responsibility for the attack, according to PTI.
Meanwhile, the airport was closed for a few hours this morning in light of the attack. Air traffic coming into Srinagar was diverted/cancelled. Services have now resumed, and flights from New Delhi are expected to land in Srinagar shortly. Passengers who were to fly out of Srinagar, and were stranded this morning, have been given entry to the airport. Rajnath Singh is chairing a high-level meeting to take stock of the situation.
12.18 pm: “Ye sahi hai ki BSF ke camp pe humla hona humare liye challenge ban gaya hai. Camp humesha sajag hona chahiye. Unhone camp mein ghusne ka jo saahas kiya hai iska unhe bahut bada bhugtan karna padega (It is true that the attack on BSF camp has become a challenge for us. The camp should always be alert. The militants will have to pay heavily for entering the camp),” MoS Home Hansraj Ahir is quoted as saying by ANI.
12.10 pm: Militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad has claimed responsibility for the attack, reports PTI.
12.09 pm: Meanwhile, flight services from the Srinagar International Airport have resumed. “Normal flight operations have resumed and passengers are boarding flights,” Director, Airport Authority of India, Srinagar, Sharad Kumar was quoted as saying by PTI.
12.07 pm: The exact number of militants who entered the BSF camp is still unknown.
12.00 pm: An Assistant Sub-Inspector of the BSF has been killed, reports PTI. Four security personnel are also wounded in the attack. Security forces have gunned down two militants. The operation is still underway; one militant is reportedly hiding in the building.
An Assistant Sub-Inspector of the BSF has been killed. Four security personnel are also wounded in the attack. Security forces have gunned down two militants. The operation is still underway; one militant is reportedly hiding in the building.
11.35 am: Operations are still underway at the BSF 182nd Battalion camp near Srinagar International Airport. Flight services have resumed, but schools in the vicinity will remain closed today. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to chair a high-level meeting to take stock of the situation.
11.26 am: MoS Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh said, “Security forces responded promptly to the attack and ensured there was no collateral damage to civilians,” reported ANI.
11.12 am: Operation against militants is underway at the BSF camp near the Srinagar International Airport (deferred visuals)\
10.23 am: Passengers flying out of Srinagar have been allowed to proceed towards the airport. Incoming flights from New Delhi are expected to land at the airport shortly. Services were initially suspended due to the attack.
10.20 am: One militant is still holed up inside building at the BSF camp; operation underway, reports ANI. Jammu and Kashmir deputy CM Nirmal Singh said senior officers are at the site and monitoring the operations. Two militants have been gunned down by forces, a police spokesperson was quoted as saying by PTI.
9.52 am: “Two terrorists holed up in administrative building & JCO Mess. Operations underway, senior officers are monitoring it,” J&K deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh is quoted as saying by ANI.
9.34 am: In case you’re just joining us, suspected fidayeen stormed a BSF camp near the Srinagar International Airport at dawn this morning. Three jawans and one policeman were injured in the attack, while security forces killed two militants. Air traffic was initially suspended, but flight services are expected to resume shortly. Militants are still reportedly holed up inside the campus, and an operation to flush them out is underway. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will chair a high-level meeting at 11.30 am to take stock of the situation.
The 182nd BSF Battalion camp which was attacked is adjacent to the old Srinagar air field, which is run by the Indian Air Force. The battalion is entrusted with security of the international airport runway, reports PTI. There are schools in the area as well, which will remain closed today in light of the attack.
9.30 am: Air Asia (I5715) and Vistara (UK799) flights from New Delhi are expected to arrive at the Srinagar International airport shortly.
9.27 am: A second militants has been killed, according to police sources. Meanwhile, operations at the Srinagar International Airport have resumed.
9.20 am: Three jawans and one policeman have been injured in the attack at the BSF camp. The militants are still holed up inside one of the buildings on campus, reports PTI.
8.52 am: Airport services, which were previously suspended in the wake of the attack, will be restored after the decision is taken by the Airports Authority of India and concerned airlines, reports ANI.
8.47 am: The Srinagar International Airport is a highly fortified zone. According to sources, security personnel are not sure how the militants managed to sneak into the camp. The 182 Battalion is entrusted with the security of the airport’s runway.
8.35 am: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has called a high-level meeting at 11.30 am in light of the attack.
8.32 am: The road to the airport has been opened, and passengers are being allowed entry towards the Srinagar airport, reports ANI. However, air traffic has not been restored yet. Meanwhile, airports in other metro cities have been put on high alert following the attack.
8.22 am: The Kashmir Valley School, which is located near the airport, will remain closed today, in light of the attack on the BSF camp.
8.11 am: A body, suspected to be that of a militant, has been found inside the BSF camp. The identity is yet to ascertained, Director General of Police SP Vaid said, reports PTI.
8.08 am: The firing has stopped and security forces are conducting combing operations at the camp. According to officials, two militants are still hiding inside a building.
8.02 am: The Srinagar airport, which is under CRPF security, has been shut down due to the ongoing operation. The CRPF has barred flight operations till security clearance, reports ANI.
8.00 am: Personnel from the CRPF, 53 RR, BSF and SOG zonal have cordoned off the building in which the militants are holed up, according to ANI. Senior officials are present at the spot.
7.50 am: The area outside the camp has been cordoned off. The road to the airport has been closed, and airline staff and civilians have been barred from moving towards the airport.
7.30 am: According to civilians residing outside the Srinagar International Airport, the heavy barrage of fire and explosions started at dawn, at around 4.20 am on Tuesday. “There was heavy firing followed by intermittent blasts,” a resident living adjacent to the camp said.
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