10 February 2018•Update: 11 February 2018
By Zahid Rafiq
SRINAGAR, Jammu Kashmir
Militants on Saturday stormed an army camp in Jammu Kashmir, killing four people, including two soldiers and wounding nine others, according to army.
Two militants were among the dead.
While the gunbattle seems to have abated after more than 14 hours, the army did not officially declare the operation over yet as it combed the area for militants.
Indian media reported that at least three militants entered the heavily-fortified Sunjwan Army camp in Jammu area of the disputed region at 5 a.m. local time (2330GMT).
"As part of the ongoing operation in Sunjwan, the army has killed two heavily-armed terrorists. The terrorists were wearing combat uniforms carrying assault rifle, amount of ammunition and hand grenades,” Indian army said in a statement.
The statement also confirmed that a junior commissioned officer and another army soldier were killed while nine others, including women and were injured.
Earlier in the day, Indian army brought in heavy reinforcements to fight the militants who had breached the heavily-fortified camp. The government also issued an alert in the entire region.
The attack comes a day after the valley observed the fifth death anniversary of Afzal Guru, who was hanged by Indian authorities for an alleged attack on the parliament.
Kashmir, a Muslim-majority Himalayan region, is held by India and Pakistan in parts and claimed by both in full. A small sliver of Kashmir is also held by China.
The two countries have fought three wars -- in 1948, 1965 and 1971 -- since they were partitioned in 1947, two of which were fought over Kashmir.
Also in Siachen glacier in northern Kashmir, Indian and Pakistani troops have fought intermittently since 1984. A cease-fire came into effect in 2003.
Kashmiri resistance groups in Jammu Kashmir have been fighting against Indian rule for independence, or for unification with neighboring Pakistan.
More than 70,000 people have reportedly been killed in the conflict since 1989. India maintains more than half a million troops in the disputed region.
