Democracy under attack: Dead militants' food packets bore Pakistani markings

Srinagar: Army on Saturday said the food packets recovered from the six slain militants, involved in the daring attack on the Uri camp, bore marks of the Pakistani establishment.

"The food packets, which were recovered from the encounter site, are generally used by Pakistan Army," a senior army officer here said.

The officer said the recovery of food packets along with the arms and ammunition showed that the militants were planning to engage the security forces for a long time.

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The encounter between the Army and the group of militants lasted just over six hours and left 11 security personnel including eight army soldiers dead. All the six militants were also killed.

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Among the other recoveries effected from the scene of the deadly encounter were six AK rifles with 55 magazines, two shotguns, two night vision binoculars, four radio sets, 32 unused grenades and one medical kit.

Army and police sources said the militants, who divided themselves into two groups, attacked the Army camp at 3.10 am, initially with small arms and then also used under-barrel grenade launchers and grenades.

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The Army statement said: “During the intense operations, one officer and seven soldiers of the Army, and one ASI and two constables of the J&K Police made the supreme sacrifice. Six AK rifles with 55 magazines, two shotguns, two night vision binoculars, four radio sets, 32 unused grenades, one medical kit and a large quantity of ‘warlike stores’ were recovered from the dead terrorists.”

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The slain policemen were identified as ASI Muhammad Akbar Mir, head constable Abdul Majeed Wani and constable Sanjay Kumar. The Army is yet to disclose the names of the soldiers who laid down their lives in the encounter. Army officials said their names could not be disclosed until their families were informed formally.