In a first attack of its kind after PDP-BJP government took over, three government force personnel, a civilian were killed on Friday when two heavily-armed militants attacked a police station in Kathua district of Jammu.Two attackers were also gunned down after several hours of siege after the duo barged inside the station building, leading administration to cancel all examinations and close down schools in the district.Official sources told GNS that the attackers opened fire at the Rajbagh police station in the district before 6 am. This police station is located barely 15 kilometers from the International Border.Soon after the incident, additional reinforcement including army, CRPF and Police reached to the encounter site and cordoned off the whole area. After about seven hours of the battle the attackers were gunned down by the joint team of forces.
During the attack three force personnel including two CRPF men and a policeman were killed, they said, adding that nine persons including six CRPF men, a policeman and a civilian have also suffered injuries in the attack.The injured have been identified as head constable Bhagwan singh, constable Jankar parkash, Constable Bhart Pushti, Constable Mohan Lal, constable Raj Babar, constable Parveen Kumar of CRPF 121 Bn E Coy, policeman Adiyiya Sharma and a civilian Lakhbir Singh son of Roop Singh.All the injured have been admitted in district hospital Kathua for treatment.Official sources that the attackers could be a fresh group of infiltrators who may have crossed the border last night. Forces and police teams have rushed to the spot.
They said that the attackers came in two Mahindra vehicles and later entered into the police station building after killing sentry.“Security has been beefed up across the Jammu division following the attack and all the routes in the district connecting other parts have been sealed”, a senior police official told GNS.
The traffic on the highway was also halted by authorities for several hours soon after the attack.Inspector General of Police Danish Rana while confirming the death of the two militants. The others dead were a policeman, two CRPF personnel and a civilian.The injured included seven CRPF men, a deputy superintendent of police, a police constable and a civilian, Rana added.The deputy superintendent was identified as Diwakar Singh, who sustained a bullet injury on his shoulder.The injured were hurriedly shifted to Jammu for treatment.
Meanwhile, in wake of the attack district authorities in Kathua district postponed all exams and ordered closure of all the schools throughout the district on Friday.The attack rocked the state assembly. Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh made a statement in the house.In the Lok Sabha, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said: "We share the grief of the families of the police officers and the civilian killed by the militants."Twelve people were killed on September 26, 2013 when militants had attacked Hiranagar police station in the same Kathua district and then entered an army camp on the Jammu-Pathankot highway. (GNS)