Militants' bid to storm IAF base in J&K

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, OCT. 22. Security forces today foiled an attempt by a group of four `fidayeen' (suicide squad) militants to enter the highly-guarded Air Force Base at Quil (Awantipore) around 35 km south of here. All the militants were killed but an Air Force jawan and a civilian too died in the encounter which followed the attack. The Lashkar-e-Taiba has owned responsibility.

Police sources said the militants, believed to be part of the suicide squad, reached the main gate of the Air Force Base in Khundroo at around 1.30 p.m. Travelling in a Santro car bearing registration number JK 01E-1109, the militants stopped at the barricade. One of them alighted from the vehicle and tried to remove it. However, the alert security personnel foiled their attempt and retaliated, leading to an encounter which continued for about an hour.

Mr. S.K. Karmaka, Group Captain at the base, said on receiving information that the militants were only 200 yards away from the base, security was tightened which ultimately led to foiling of the attempt. All the militants - three foreigners and a local - were killed but their identity was yet to be established, he added.

As soon as the security forces saw the militants coming towards the camp, they opened fire from all directions. The entire area looked like a battlefield, an eyewitness said. An Air Force jawan, Mr. N.C. Prakash, was killed in the militant firing. An ex-serviceman, Mr. Ali Mohammad of the Defence Service Corps (DSC), posted as sentry, two BSF and two Army jawans were injured. Mr. Mohammad was stated to be in a critical condition.

A mini bus (JK 03-6606) coming from Pulwama to Awantipore was caught in the cross-fire. Its driver was hit by bullets and later succumbed to injuries.

The Lashkar-e-Taiba spokesperson, Abu Osama, told newspaper offices over the phone that the militants attacked the IAF base and killed ``eight personnel''. Soon after the incident, senior police and para-military officers rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. They appreciated the role of the security force personnel in foiling the militants' attempt.

This is the second `fidayeen' attack by militants after the one on the State Assembly on October 1, in which 38 people were killed.

Army officer killed

In the renewed firing from across the border, an Army officer was killed and some of his colleagues were injured in the Nowshera sector in Jammu today. The officer was identified as Lt. Anoop Kumar.

Sources said the Pakistani Rangers resorted to unprovoked firing in the sector, targeting Army camps. The Rangers used 60 mm and 82 mm high-calibre weapons.

The Indian side retaliated to silence the Pakistani guns. However, nothing was known about the casualties on the Pakistani side. Intermittent firing is on in many sectors of the State, the sources added.

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