Jammu: Two BSF jawans and a militant were killed and eight others injured after terrorists attacked a convoy of the border guarding force on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Udhampur district on Wednesday morning.
The terror strike, which comes days after ultras attacked Dinanagar Police Station in Punjab, was the first in Udhampur district after over a decade.
A senior police officer said that “There was firing on a BSF convoy on the highway near Samroli by militants early this morning”.
Two BSF jawans were killed and around eight personnel injured, the officer said.
Giving details, he said that militants hurled grenades and opened indiscriminate fire on the convoy when it reached Nassu belt on its way from Jammu to Srinagar. BSF jawans retaliated, leaving one militant killed.
IG Jammu, Danish Rana said that two BSF jawans and a militant were killed.
Army and police have rushed to the spot and entire area has been cordoned off, he said.
The injured have been taken to a hospital, he said, adding massive combing operations have been launched in and around areas.
Vehicular movement on the highway has been stopped due to the incident.
The convoy carrying Amarnath pilgrims had already crossed the highway when the militants attacked the BSF vehicle.
BSF Director General D K Pathak has rushed to Jammu to take stock of the security situation.
Officials said Pathak is rushing to Udhampur, leaving midway the five-day DG level talks with their eastern counterparts Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) who are presently here for the annual bilateral meeting between the two sides.
“The DG will review the situation in Jammu and adjoining areas in the wake of the early morning attack on the BSF convoy in Udhampur.
He will also review the security arrangements for the Amarnath yatra being secured by the force and other paramilitary and police units, they said.
Pathak is expected to be back by late evening as the joint record of discussions with the visiting Bangladeshi delegation is scheduled to be signed tomorrow between the two DsG.
DG Pathak would also be forced to miss a special handball match being scheduled between the troops of the BSF and BGB.
“The DG has humbly conveyed the decision and emergency of his visit to Jammu to his Bangladeshi counterpart,” they said.