JAMMU: A 'fidayeen' squad of militants in Army fatigues stormed a police station in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, killing four persons, including three security personnel, and leaving 10 others injured in the wee hours on Friday.
Two militants were also killed in the subsequent encounter with security forces that ended around noon.
This is the first major militant attack in the state since the formation of the PDP-BJP coalition government in the state on March 1.
Police officers said a group of two to three militants of a 'fidayeen' squad stormed Rajbagh Police Station in the wee hours and opened indiscriminate fire.
"It is a fidayeen attack," IGP Jammu Danish Rana said.
Six persons have been killed in the attack including two militants, two CRPF personnel, a policeman and a civilian while 10 others have been injured, police said.
An injured CRPF constable Bharat Prabhu said the militants wearing Army uniforms intercepted a jeep going from Jammu to Pathankot on the pretext of checking the vehicle.
The ultras then hijacked the jeep which had three passengers on board and fled towards the Rajbagh Police Station where they opened fire on a sentry and killed him.
The militants then hurled grenades at the police station and opened indiscriminate fire.
Nine persons have been injured in the attack - seven CRPF personnel, a policeman and a civilian.
Additional troops have been rushed to the spot and the Jammu-Pathankot Highway has been closed as a precautionary measure.
Entire area in and around the police station has been cordoned off.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to the DGP of Jammu and Kashmir and took stock of the situation.
Singh has directed the Home Secretary to closely monitor the situation.
The Home Ministry is closely monitoring the situation and waiting for further details, Home Ministry spokesperson said.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said his thoughts were with the security personnel dealing with the fidayeen attack.
"These fidayeen will have walked across the border last night and launched their attack this morning which is the past pattern as well", he tweeted.
"My thoughts are with those brave security personnel dealing with the fidayeen attach in Kathua town of Jammu this morning," he said.
(With inputs from agencies)