Sunjwan: The security forces on Saturday killed two militants, believed tobe associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), hours after they attacked anArmy camp area.

According to Defence PRO, at least two terrorists have been killed and someAK-47 assault rifles and other weapons have been recovered from them.

”Search of their belongings confirmed that the militants belonged to JeM.So far, one JCO and 1 NCO, both belonging to J&K, have been killed and 9others are injured. Two of them being critical. The operation will continuetill all militants are apprehended or killed,” the Defence PRO said.

The security forces are trying to eliminate other militants believed to beholed up in the area. Their exact number is not known yet.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti this afternoonchaired an emergency meeting with top state government officials, includingthe J&K Police DGP SP Vaid, to discuss the situation.

Sources said the Army was going from room to room to pin down the otherterrorists holed up inside the residential building. Officials further saidthat all the families have been evacuated and there is no hostage situation.

A group of heavily armed militants, believed to be from the ‘Afzal Gurusquad’ of JeM, today attacked the Army camp in Sunjwan, located on theoutskirts of Jammu city, in which at least two junior commissioned officers(JCOs) were killed and six others, including a Major and a daughter of anArmy personnel, injured.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Abdul Rehman Veeri informed the Jammu andKashmir Assembly that Subedar Madanlal Chowdhary and Subedar MohammedAshraf Mir were killed in the attack by a group of militants.

The Army, however, maintained that only one JCO was killed.

Briefing media persons at the main entrance of the camp, Jammu-based ArmyPRO Lt Col Devender Anand said, “In the early hours today after a briefexchange of fire with sentry on the periphery, some terrorists entered thefamily accommodation complex.

“The quick response teams have cordoned off the area and isolated theterrorists, who are holed up in a few houses (inside the camp),” theofficer said.

He said in the operation to evacuate families, one JCO was killed while sixpersons, including women and children, suffered injuries.

The Major has been airlifted to an Udhampur hospital where his conditionwas stated to be critical, Army officials said.

Army helicopters and drones have been pressed into service to ascertain theexact location of the militants, officials said.

While there was no action around the main entrance and vehicles were movingalong the Jammu-Lakhanpur bypass in front of the camp, Army personnel inbullet-proof vehicles were engaged in the operation to rescue people fromthe family quarters in the rear side of the base.

A final assault against the holed-up militants has been launched as therescue operation is almost over, media reports from the area said.

Contingents of para-military CRPF and police personnel have been postedoutside the boundary wall and were keeping curious onlookers at bay toavoid civilian casualties. Generators and searchlights were brought to thecamp, apparently for a night assault.

Inspector General of Police (Jammu) S D Singh Jamwal told reporters herethat “around 4:55 am suspicious movement was noticed by the sentry and hisbunker was fired upon. The fire was retaliated. The number of militants isnot known. They have been cornered in one of the family quarters.”

Soon after the attack, reinforcements of the Army’s special forces andspecial operations group (SOG) rushed to the spot and cordoned off the areaamid a fierce gunfight, security officials said.

Schools in a five-kilometre radius around the camp have been closed by theauthorities as a precautionary measure.

A high alert has been sounded in Jammu and security beefed up in and aroundthe city.

Intelligence inputs had warned of an attack on an Army or securityestablishment by Jaish-e-Mohammed in view of the death anniversary of AfzalGuru who was hanged on February 9, 2013.

Those injured included an Army officer, Havaldar Abdul Hamid, Lance NaikBahadur Singh and the daughter of slain Subedar Chowdhary, the ministerearlier told the House which witnessed protests by BJP members who raisedanti-Pakistan slogans.