In Midst of Election, Massive Suicide Attack At Army Camp In Kashmir's Uri

Eleven security personnel have been killed in a suicide attack on an army artillery camp in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, in an escalation of militant violence in the middle of elections in the state. Eight soldiers, including an officer, and three policemen, were killed when militants attacked the camp in Kashmir's Uri, a largely peaceful garrison town around 100 km northwest of Srinagar. Six militants were also killed. The army said the heavily-armed group of militants entered the camp at around 3.30 am and started firing. In a second incident in Srinagar, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to campaign on Monday, two militants intercepted at a police post in the heart of the city reportedly opened fire. One of them was killed and the forces are searching for the second. On Tuesday, the third phase of staggered voting will be held in Uri and neighbouring areas. Separatists have called for a boycott of the election and militants have stepped up attacks after a lull of months, but voters have turned out in record numbers on the two days of polling held so far, braving freezing temperatures and long lines. Today's attacks were seen as a message to people who have largely ignored calls to boycott the polls. The result will be announced on December 23. Led by an expansive campaign by the Prime Minister, the BJP is making its most serious bid yet to win power for the first time in the state, banking on votes in the Hindu-majority Jammu and Buddhist Ladakh areas. It is also capitalising on the rise of independents and splits elsewhere in Muslim-majority Kashmir. On November 27, three soldiers and five civilians were killed after a group of terrorists crossed over, opened fire at an army column on patrol and entered an unused bunker in the Arnia sector of Jammu. Four militants were also killed.