Srinagar:Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar was today briefed here by army officials about the counter-operation in Uri where a deadly terror attack left 17 jawans dead and 20 injured.

The minister also visited the injured jawans at the hospital. Parrikar had rushed to Srinagar to take stock of the situation after four suspected Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists struck the administrative base of the army’s 10 Dogra regiment at Uri in Baramulla district.

“The Defence Minister was briefed about the Uri terror attack and the counter-operation in which the terrorists were neutralised,” an army official said.

Parrikar arrived at the Chinar Corps Headquarters of the army at Badami Bagh in the evening where senior army officials briefed him, he added.

The Defence Minister also visited the 92 Base Hospital of the army where he was briefed about the condition of the injured soldiers who were undergoing treatment there.

Four terrorists, believed to have infiltrated from across the Line of Control (LoC), targeted the army base camp in the wee hours in one of the deadliest attacks on the security establishment in recent times.

All four were neutralised in a counter-operation by the army.

Meanwhile, an army spokesman said Parrikar and Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag visited the Valley to take stock of the operations and review the overall security situation.

“They were briefed by Northern Army and Chinar Corps Commanders Lt Gen. DS Hooda and Lt Gen. Satish Dua respectively at Srinagar on the Uri terror attack and the operation launched to neutralise the terrorists,” he said.

“While three of the four heavily-armed terrorists were eliminated within the first 15 minutes of establishing contact, the fourth was neutralised later,” the spokesman said.

He said four AK-47 rifles and an equal number of under barrel grenade launchers (UBGLs), along with other war-like stores, were recovered from the slain militants.

“Unfortunately, 17 soldiers have attained martyrdom in the operation. 13 of them died as they were trapped in tents and shelters which caught fire due to the explosives used by the terrorists,” he added.

The Defence Minister was briefed about the security grid along the Line of Control (LoC) and the hinterland, covering the deployment and employment of additional forces that have recently been inducted into the Valley.

“The need for a heightened vigil both on the LoC and the hinterland and to remain prepared for any development was stressed upon,” he said.

The spokesman said the army has foiled a number of infiltration attempts recently in the state, including three in Kupwara and Poonch areas.

“The army chief reiterated the importance of complete synergy amongst all the security, intelligence and other government agencies to ensure calm and prevent terrorists and other inimical forces from moving with impunity and intimidating the population,” he said.

The army chief also visited Uri to get a first-hand account of the operation. There, he was briefed on the latest situation by the commanders on ground.

Parrikar and Gen. Suhag later met the injured soldiers at the Army Base Hospital.

“Saluting the martyrs, they expressed deep grief and conveyed condolences over the loss and wished a speedy recovery to the injured,” the spokesman said.

The Defence Minister has directed that the mortal remains of the martyrs be transported directly to their respective hometowns for which arrangements were being made, he added.

PTI