SRINAGAR: Three General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) employees were killed in a militant attack on their camp along the Line of Control (LoC) in Akhnoor sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.
J&K DGP S P Vaid told Express that a group of militants fired on GREF employees in their camp at Battal Khour near LoC in Akhnoor sector early this morning.
He said three GREF employees were killed in the attack.
GREF is the parent cadre force of Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which looks after the maintenance and construction of the border roads.
Sources said a group of two to three militants attacked the GREF camp at about 01.35 am. “They fired indiscriminately on the employees present in the camp, killing three GREF labourers”.
The GREF camp is located about two to three kms from the LoC.
According to sources, immediately after the militant attack, army, police and paramilitary personnel reached the spot and launched an operation to track down the militants responsible for the attack.
DGP Vaid said combing operation was going on. “It is not clear yet whether the militants returned back or are hiding in the area”.
“The combing operation and searches are going on,” he said adding there has been no contact with the militants.
Vaid said some ammunition and items have been recovered during the search operation.
“The security personnel have recovered a live grenade, RPG tube, UBGL rounds, 2 rucksacks, some magazines and some pouches during the search operation,” he said.
The DGP said they are trying to ascertain whether the militants have gone back or are still hiding there.
“Police and CRPF personnel are assisting the army in the search operation,” he added.
After the militant attack, high alert was sounded in entire Jammu region.
The J&K Assembly is presently in session in Jammu and the main Republic Day function of the State will be held in the winter capital.
A police officer said security personnel in Jammu region have been asked to maintain a tight vigil to foil any militant attack.
Meanwhile, J&K Assembly, which is in session in Jammu – the winter capital of the State, condemned the militant attack and expressed solidarity with the bereaved GREF labourers families.
The members observed two-minute silence as a mark of respect to the departed souls.
Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti also condemned the militant attack on a GREF camp and conveyed
her sympathies with the families of slain GREF workers.
She underscored the need for working together to end the cycle of violence and bloodshed in the State.