J&K: 17 soldiers, 4 militants killed in Uri Army headquarters attack

Rajnath Singh postponed his visit to Russia and the US after the attack and has called a high-level meeting at his residence.

Srinagar: At least 17 soldiers died in a standoff with militants who attacked the army's headquarters in Uri, near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla, on Saturday morning. All four militants were also killed.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag will visit Uri on Sunday in the wake of the attack.

Earlier, Home Minister Rajnath Singh postponed his visit to Russia and the United States following the attack in Kashmir. He called a high-level security meeting at his residence at 12:15 pm and it will be attended by senior Home Ministry and Ministry of Defence officials.

Explosions were heard inside the army camp in the morning and later a gun battle started between the militants and security personnel. About three to four militants had entered the army’s 12th brigade headquarters around 5:30 am on Sunday.

Over a dozen soldiers were rushed to Army hospital in Srinagar with bullet and burn injuries. Special forces of Army were soon airdropped to the site of the attack and helicopters from the Army's 19 divisional headquarters in Baramulla were also pressed into service.

It is believed that the attack was the handiwork of a freshly infiltrated group of militants who could have entered along the Salamabad Nallah into the town. The entire area has been sealed off.

The attack comes two years after militants had carried out a similar type of attack at Mohra in the same area. Ten security personnel were killed in the attack that took place on December 5, 2014.