PM says the people behind Uri Terror attack in J&K will not go unpunished
NEW DELHI : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condemned the Uri terror attack in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, calling it a cowardly act.Mr Modi assured the nation that those behind the attack will be punished.
Saluting the martyrs, he said their service to the nation will always be remembered. The Prime Minister said, he also spoke to Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on the situation.Seventeen soldiers were martyred in the attack after heavily armed terrorists stormed an the army camp in the town in the early hours today.
In a counter action, security forces gunned down four terrorists. At least 20 Army personnel were also injured in the attack – some of them critically.Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the security situation at a meeting in New Delhi in wake of the terror attack. He said, there are definite and conclusive indications that the perpetrators were highly trained, heavily armed and specially equipped.
He said, Pakistan is a terrorist state and it should be identified and isolated as such. The Home Minister also spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and was apprised of the overall situation.In view of the attack, Mr Singh has postponed his scheduled visit to Russia and the United States.
Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen Ranbir Singh called up his counterpart in Pakistan expressing serious concerns over Pakistani markings found on the equipment used by the four terrorists.Briefing media in New Delhi, Lt Gen Singh said all four killed were foreign terrorists and initial reports indicate that the slain terrorists belonged to Jaish-E-Mohammed.
General Singh said 13 to 14 casualties were due to the tents and temporary shelter catching fire. He asserted that Indian Army remains prepared to thwart any such attempt and is ready to give befitting reply.
President Pranab Mukherjee has strongly condemned the terrorist attack and said India will not be cowed down by such attacks. In a series of tweet, Mr Mukherjee said, India will thwart the evil designs of terrorists and their backers.
Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari expressed shock at the attack. He said such attacks are the result of the use of cross-border terrorism by one particular country in the region. Mr Ansari said India will deal with such provocations in a befitting manner.
Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said the attack might be a revenge for killing Pakistan based infiltrators and terrorists in Kashmir.Congress President Sonia Gandhi has expressed shock and distress over the attack.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti said the attack appears to be aimed at triggering fresh violence and creating a war-like situation in the region.Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said, it is time to introspect and devise an effective strategy to deter such attacks in future.
Condemning the attack, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley assured that those behind it will not be spared. Speaking in in Jalandhar, he said it becomes important to isolate Pakistan on international platform after the attack.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar reached Srinagar this evening to take stock of the situation following the terror attack. The Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag also reached Srinagar.
They were briefed by the Northern Army Commander Lt Gen DS Hooda and Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen Satish Dua on the Uri attack and the operation launched to neutralise the attackers.Both Parrikar and Gen Suhag later met the injured army personnel at the Army Base Hospital in Srinagar.The Home Ministry has issued an alert for all airports across the country following the attack.
The attack comes nearly two years after terrorists had carried out a similar attack at Mohra in the same area.Ten security personnel were killed in the attack that took place on 5th of December, 2014.
