Live: Samba operation over, all three terrorists dead

Srinagar: 5:17 pm: Firing has stopped as all the three terrorists have been killed.

2:34 pm: The Pakistan High Commission has condemned the Jammu twin terror attack. In its statement, the Pakistan High Commission said, "Pakistan strongly condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Our hearts go out in sympathy to the families of all those who fell victim to the acts of terrorist violence in Jammu today. Terrorism is a pernicious evil. Pakistan has been its foremost victim. We are committed to leaving no stone unturned to eliminate the specter of terrorist violence from our society and our region. It is imperative that senseless acts of violence do not deter us from pursuing a path to a better future for our people."

2:27 pm: No birthday celebrations for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The Prime Minister has decided to mark the day for the Jammu attack.

1:35 pm: The Samba SSP has said that firing has stopped at the Army camp in Samba and two terrorists have been killed. Search operations are on in the area that has now been cordoned off.

1:07 pm: Defence Minister AK Antony has condemned the terrorist attack on Indian security posts. "The Indian security establishment will leave no stone unturned in dealing with the terrorists with a firm hand," Antony said.

1:00 pm: Two terrorists can still be seen on the roof top of the Army officers' mess. Firing is still on.

12:38 pm: The Home Ministry has confirmed that four terrorists entered from Pakistan occupied Kashmir on Thursday through the Hiranagar sector.

12:19 pm: Those among the three Army personnel dead are Sepoy Kiran Kuma and the second In Command of the Army unit in Samba. Meanwhile, firing has subsided at the Army camp.

12:18 pm: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his statement said, "No words are strong enough to condemn the heinous terrorist attack on Hiranagar Police Station and the Army camp at Samba in Jammu and Kashmir this morning. I convey my heartfelt condolences to the families of the brave army and police officers, as well as the innocent civilians martyred in this cowardly attack. This is one more in a series of provocations and barbaric actions by the enemies of peace. We are firmly resolved to combat and defeat the terrorist menace that continues to receive encouragement and reinforcement from across the border. Such actions will not deter us and will not succeed in derailing our efforts to find a resolution to all problems through a process of dialogue."

12:08 pm: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has condemned the twin attack saying it is an attack on peace.

12:02 pm: The Commanding Officer of the Army unit has also been injured in the exchange of fire that is on at the Army camp in Samba.

11:40 am: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said stalling talks could be a victory for terrorists. "It may be a political compulsion for some political parties to call off the dialogue but if the dialogue is called off, the peace process will be derailed, it would be a victory for the terrorists and that would be wrong," Omar said.

11:24 am: The death toll in the twin terror attack in Jammu has gone up to 12 as exchange of fire between the Army and terrorists is on at the Army camp in samba. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has condemned the attack saying, "I condemn this attack that took place in Samba and Kathua sector in Jammu and is on right now." "My condolence to the family members of the jawans and Army personnel," he added.

Omar said that the timing of the attack and location indicate that the attackers wanted to stall peace process. "The timing and location of the attack makes it clear that their intention was to derail the peace process," he said.

Omar also said the India Pakistan PM level talks must go on. "There will be pressure on the PM to call off dialogue. We in the state are committed to a peaceful resolution to the problems existing in the state. We feel that talks should not be suspended with Pakistan. The only way for peace is via talks," Omar said.

Just 72 hours ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's meeting in New York, there have been two fresh terror attacks in Jammu. Terrorists attacked a police station in Kathua and an Army camp in Samba.

An alert has now been issued in the entire state. The Home Secretary and the IB chief have briefed Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde about the fidayeen attack.

After the attack on a police station in Kathua that left five policemen and two civilians dead, the terrorists escaped in a bus from the spot, killed the bus driver and are now engaged in an exchange of fire with Army personnel at a camp of the 16 Cavalry in Samba. Lieutenant Colonel Bikramjeet Singh and two Army personnel have died while two others have been injured.

There are indications that two terrorists may have been shot dead, but there is no confirmation on this yet. The exchange of fire between the Army and terrorists is still on.

"Three people went inside the gate and fire the bullets. There was exchange of fire inside. The firing is still on," said an eyewitness.

Earlier in the morning, seven people died on Thursday in a deadly terrorist attack in Kathua. Terrorists reportedly attacked a police station in Harinagar killing five police personnel and two civilians. Many policemen have also been seriously injured. The terrorists reportedly escaped the area in a bus parked outside the police station after the attack.

Initial reports suggest that there could have been three to five attackers dressed as Army personnel and had come to the police station in an autorickshaw. The Jammu-Kathua highway has been sealed off following the attack and search operations are on.

These attacks come just four days after an attack on CISF personnel in the heart of Srinagar. They also come at a time when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is all set to meet his Pakistani counterpart in the US for talks.

The Opposition is demanding that the talks be put on hold following continuous ceasefire violations and terror attacks. "We condemn the twin attack in Jammu. This shows how Pakistan continues its strategy. The talks between Indian PM and Pakistan PM in US are uncalled for." BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said.

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