Pampore encounter continues amid heavy gunfire

The over-40 hour stand-off between terrorists and security forces at Pampore in south Kashmir entered its third day on Monday, even as the sounds of gunfire and explosions rent the air.

The army said it was in no hurry to flush out the terrorists holed up in a government building in Pampore area on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway as the main aim is to avoid further casualty to security forces.

As the operation against the terrorists entered the third day, General Officer Commanding of the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps, Lt Gen Satish Dua, told reporters in Srinagar, "There is no time limit. There is no hurry. Our main purpose is to make sure that we do not have anymore casualty. We will take as long as it takes to clear the building."

The army commander said the EDI is a vast campus and it requires specialised forces to clear the holed-up terrorists.

"Two main buildings have been cleared and now the terrorists have taken position in the (third) building. It is a huge campus of 15 acres. It has three main buildings apart from a couple of other ancillary buildings.

"This main building is four floors and a cafeteria or a canteen on top. It has 40-50 rooms, not counting the smaller rooms and toilets, and an area of 10,000 square feet. So, each of the floors has to be cleared room by room. So, specialised units are required to clear it," Dua said.

"As the operation is in progress, I will not be able to say anything more on it except that our specialised units are having complete synergy with the CAPFs (Central Armed Paramilitary Forces)," he said.

So far, the paramilitary has suffered two fatal casualties and nine other personnel have been wounded, Dua said, adding that the army lost three bravehearts, all of whom were from special forces.

He said all civilians have been evacuated.