As many as three Indian Army personnel, including a captain, were killed and five others injured in an attack by terrorists on an army camp in district Kupwara of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. The terrorists were suspected to be members of banned terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad. Two terrorists were also killed in retaliatory action.

According to ANI, reports of stone pelting emerged from locations near to the site of the Army camp attack.

A defence spokesperson told PTI that the terrorists attacked the army camp at Panzgam in Kupwara, around 100-kilometre from Srinagar– the capital of Jammu and Kashmir. He also confirmed that three soldiers, including the officer, were martyred in the attack before the two terrorists were killed. Five other Indian soldiers were injured in the attack, They were airlifted to Army’s 92 base hospital for treatment, according to PTI.

The terrorists had attacked the army personnel who were involved in road opening duties in the area. The incident took place a little after 4.00 am.

The attack by terrorists today had similarities with the Uri terror attack on an army camp in September last year when 19 Indian soldiers were martyred.

According to official sources, the search operation is on to find out if any militant managed to sneak into the camp under the cover of darkness.

According to an ANI report, two more terrorists are believed to be holed up and attempts were on to smoke them out. The entire area was cordoned off after the attack for search operations.

The army camp attacked by the terrorists was close to the Line of Control (LOC).

Jaish-e-Mohammad is a Pakistan-based terror outfit led by terrorist Masood Azhar. India has been making attempts to get him declared as an international terrorist by the UN. However, Indian attempts have been so far thwarted by China.

The JeM has carried out many attacks in India in the last few years. It was also believed to be involved in the Pathankot terror attack last year on an Indian Air Force base.

In September, four days after the Uri attack, JeM terrorists were engaged in an encounter with the security forces. One of the terrorists was reportedly killed then.

In February this year, three soldiers were martyred in an attack by terrorists and six others injured in Kashmir’s Bandipora. A civilian had also suffered injuries, while a terrorist was killed.

Union Home Minister today hold a meeting with an inter-ministerial team to review the implementation of development package for Jammu and Kashmir announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On November 29, three soldiers were killed in a terror attack on an army artillery unit in Nagrota area of the state. The attack was carried out by heavily-armed suicide attackers who entered the army unit at with grenades and forced their way in

(With agency inputs)