At least three security personnel and a civilian were killed in a fierce operation that lasted around five hours after militants attacked a police station in Jammu's Kathua district today morning. Two attackers were also shot dead in a gunfight that erupted after militants wearing army fatigues, believed to be fidayeen or suicide bombers, attacked Rajbagh police station, some 15km from the international border.

Modus Operndi

A senior police officer said, "Militants used automatic weapons and hurled grenades at the Rajbagh police station." Reports said after killing the sentry at the police station's guard post, the guerrillas entered the police station, 65km from Jammu on the strategic Jammu-Pathankot national highway in Kathua district. Traffic on the highway was stopped after militants launched the assault around 6:15 am early morning.

The Indian Army along with state police and para military forces launched an operation to flush out the militants.

Government's statement

"Two militants have been gunned down by our security forces. We admire and commend the work done by our security forces," Union home minister Rajnath Singh told Lok Sabha in a statement.

"A civilian who was shot down by militant has our sympathies," said Singh.

I want to congratulate the security forces who bravely managed to gun down the militants in Kathua: HM Rajnath Singh tweeted.

Former J-K chief minister Omar Abdullah tweeted, "These Fidayeen will have walked across the border last night & launched their attack this morning which is the past pattern as well."

J&K State Assembly disrupted

Proceedings in the state assembly were disrupted over the attack with Opposition National Conference condemning the incident. MLAs from the NC and the Congress accused the BJP of keeping silent. Congress legislators said that when the BJP was in opposition it talked about taking strong steps against Pakistan, but now it has chosen to say nothing.

Newsgram Staff Writer