Smoke rises from Indian Army camp at Uri attacked by Kashmiri Muslim militants. (Photo : Ministry of Defence)
Operation Calm Down, the Indian Army's ongoing campaign to clamp down on Muslim terrorists in Kashmir, was dealt a massive blow when a suicide squad of four Kashmiri "fedayeen" penetrated an army base at the town of Uri and launched a gun and grenade attack that killed 17 soldiers.
It was the largest loss of life suffered by the Indian Army in a single attack in two years in Muslim-majority Kashmir. It occurred despite the Army being on its toes with the activation of Calm Down last week.
Muslim Kashmiris are fighting for an independent Muslim state allied with Pakistan. Kashmir is over 80 percent Muslim.
An investigation into the security lapses that led to this large death toll is forthcoming. At least 35 other Indian soldiers were injured. All four fedayeen were killed after a firefight lasting six hours.
An unidentified high-level government official was quoted by media as saying the attack was "part of Pakistan's larger game plan to spread unrest in Jammu and Kashmir."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to punish those responsible for the "despicable" and "cowardly" attack.
Army reports said the Kashmiris cut open the wire fence as the base slept and attacked soldiers sleeping in their tents at about 4:00 a.m. Most of the soldiers were killed as fire engulfed their tents.
The base at Uri n North Kashmir is an army administrative base in Jammu near the Line of Control with Pakistan. It was crammed with soldiers following a change of command ceremony that welcomed the arrival of a new brigade to reinforce the XV Corps based in Srinagar, summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir.
"The administrative base had 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 sacrifice of 17 soldiers who were martyred in the operation," said the army in a statement.
The army camp attacked by militants is located few meters away from the army's brigade headquarters at Uri, 102 km from Srinagar.
General Dalbir Singh Suhag, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army, only last week inspected army units stationed at Jammu and Kashmir, after which the army launched Calm Down.
Gen. Singh's inspection also took him to Srinagar where was briefed about the prevailing security situation in the valley by General Officer Commanding XV Corps Lt. Gen. Satish Dua. Gen. Singh reviewed the security situation in Kashmir, especially in the four worst-affected districts in south Kashmir. He also toured forward positions along the Line of Control in Kupwara district to review the preparedness of the anti-infiltration grid.
