Seven soldiers, six militants killed in two terror attacks in Jammu

Jammu: Two major terror attacks rocked Jammu region on Tuesday in which 7 army personnel, including a Major, were killed and eight other securitymen, including a BSF DIG, were injured, before six heavily-armed terrorists were eliminated in the separate fierce encounters.
In one incident, a group of heavily-armed terrorists in police uniform stormed an army unit in Nagrota, about 3km from the Corps headquarters on the outskirts of Jammu city on Tuesday morning, triggering an intense gunbattle that lasted for hours. Seven army personnel, including two officers, were killed in this attack before three terrorists were killed in an armed stand-off which also involved a hostage-like situation with 12 soldiers, two ladies and two children being held captive. All were rescued, army spokesman said.
Three terrorists were gunned down by Border Security Force in Ramgarh area of Samba near the International Border after an encounter that lasted several hours and was followed by intense cross-border firing by Pakistani troops. Four security personnel, including BSF DIG, were injured in this incident.
Giving details of the Nagrota attack, army spokesman said in the early hours of Tuesday, a group of heavily-armed terrorists, disguised in police uniform, targeted the army unit located 3km from the Corps Headquarters.
"The terrorists forced their entry into the Officers' Mess complex by throwing grenades and firing at the sentries," the spokesman said.
"In the initial counter action, one officer and three soldiers of the army were martyred," he added.
The terrorists entered two buildings which were occupied by officers, families and men, which "led to a hostage-like situation", he said.
"The situation was very quickly contained and thereafter, in a deliberate operation, all were successfully rescued, which included 12 soldiers, two ladies and two children," the spokesman said.
"However, in this rescue attempt, one more officer and two jawans sacrificed their lives," he added. In the gunbattle, three terrorists were killed.
"Bodies of three terrorists have been recovered and operations are in progress to santise the complete area," the spokesman said.
Among the soldiers who died was a Major.
In the wake of the terror attack on 166 Artillery unit of the army, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was closed for traffic in the area and was reopened on Tuesday evening.
The unit is located about 3km from Army's 16 Corps which oversees all military operations in Jammu region.
The district administration has closed all schools in Nagorta tehsil as a precautionary measure.
"We have ordered closure of all schools and education institutions in Nagrota tehsil in view of the terror attack," Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Simrandeep Singh said.