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8 security personnel including Army officer killed in J&K terror attack

Intense firing took place at the camp in Uri all morning. (Pic courtesy ANI)

JK Police & army are responding to the attack in Uri. Once again shows the desperate levels militants will go to to disrupt peace & normalcy — Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) December 5, 2014

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Modi to campaign in third phase on December 8

Defence minister reacts (PTI report)

#UriAttack is meant to target J&K Assembly polls, says Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar — TIMES NOW (@timesnow) December 5, 2014

NEW DELHI: Three terrorist attacks were reported in Jammu & Kashmir on Friday. Hours after an attack in the Uri sector of Baramulla district in north Kashmir, a second attack was reported in Srinagar, while in a third attack a grenade was hurled at a police station in Shopian district of Jammu & Kashmir a short while ago.At least eight security personnel, including a lieutenant colonel and one assistant sub inspector of police, were killed in a fidayeen attack launched by Pakistani infiltrators at 32 Field Regiment in Uri sector of Baramulla district in north Kashmir in the early hours of Friday. Uri is about 100km northwest of Srinagar. Six terrorists were also been killed in the gunbattle, which is still on.A terrorist was also killed in an attack in the Soura area of Srinagar. Security has been beefed up in the city. Firing is still on, according to reports.A senior Army officer who is commanding the operation against terrorists in Uri told TOI that the terrorists attacked the camp around 3am on Friday."The exact number of terrorists involved in the attack is not known. But the way these terrorists, believed to be from Pakistan, killed three policemen on the road outside our Army camp makes us believe that they entered the camp from the gate through the road which is not made of concrete boundary."The Army officer said, "One of our lieutenant colonels Sankalp Kumar of 24-Punjab regiment was killed in the exchange of fire besides three other soldiers. We have killed 5-6 terrorists so far and the combing operation to locate the remaining fidayeen is on.”The three policemen killed in the gunbattle have been identified as AIS Mohammad Akbar Lone, head constable Abdul Majid and constable Sanjay Singh.The operation against terrorists is being led by two officers Lt Col Gurawah Jain and Lt Col Surinder Singh.The officers confirmed that the Pakistani infiltrators divided themselves into two groups. While one group entered the Army camp, other engaged the troops at the gate."The infiltrators used small arms and followed it with UBGL fire," the Army officer said.The attack comes days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state on December 8, where he is scheduled to address an election rally in Srinagar.Uri and six other constituencies in J&K go to polls on December 9 in the third phase of polling. The first two phases went off peacefully and the attacks today appear to be an attempt to mar the third phase.In Delhi, defence minister Manohar Parrikar said, "It is possible that this has happened because of elections ... We will eliminate the remaining militants who are trapped."Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said the attack was a "desperate attempt" to disrupt peace and normalcy.Omar said Jammu and Kashmir Police and army were responding to the attack."Militants have struck an army camp in north Kashmir between Baramulla and Uri. Security force casualties are feared. It's an ongoing encounter," he said.On December 2, the Army had foiled an infiltration bid in Handwara area of Kupwara district killing six militants while one Army personnel was also killed. The infiltration bid was foiled even as people in Kupwara district were voting to elect their representatives.