Heads start rolling in Uri attack, brigade commander removed as army probes terror strike

Pending investigation into the September, 18 terror attack, Uri brigade commander has been shifted. Army has commissioned an inquiry probing the Uri terror attack case.

Listen to Story

Advertisement
Picture for representation
Picture for representation.

In Short

  • Pending investigation into terror attack, Uri brigade commander has been transferred.
  • Four Pakistani terrorists had attacked Uri brigade camp in Baramulla district.
  • The army has commissioned an inquiry to probe the terror attack, which killed 19 jawans.

In what could be a precedent setting, the army has shifted Uri brigade commander K Somashanker pending investigation into the terror attack, sources have said. The army is probing the matter as to how terrorist could carry out the attack despite specific intelligence inputs.

Four Pakistani terrorists had attacked the camp of the 12th Brigade on September, 18 at Uri in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. 19 jawans lost their lives in the terror attack while 20 others were injured.

advertisement

SP Ahalwat of Kilo Force, who was recently promoted as Brigadier and was awaiting posting, has been appointed the new Brigade commander at Uri, reported Daily Excelsior. While news agency, PTI reported that an officer from the 28 Mountain Division of the army is scheduled to take over as the Uri Brigade commander.

READ: Uri attack: Another soldier succumbs to injuries, death toll rises to 19

Army is learned to have ordered shifting of Brigadier K Somashanker, who will stay at the camp for next few days to complete the formalities of handing over the charge to the new brigade commander.

THERE WAS INTEL INPUT

Earlier, it had emerged that there was specific intelligence about terrorists planning to strike army formations close to the line of control in Jammu and Kashmir. Intelligence Bureau had alerted the security agencies including the army command units in the state in advance.

The IB had given infiltration inputs for the Uri sector on September 12 and 13. The intelligence agency followed it up with a detailed alert on September 15 about a suicide terror attack in the region.

READ: Terrorists plotting 'spectacular strike' to avenge surgical strikes, fear intelligence agencies

The IB alert had mentioned about two specific things that a suicide attack could be mounted on an army installation and that it could be carried out by a BAT team (Border Action Team of Pakistan).

But, despite such detailed intelligence inputs, four Pakistani terrorists were able to target the army brigade.

ALSO READ:
Uri attack: There was specific intelligence inputs; IB alerted army units on Thursday

After surgical strikes, Pakistan mobilises its reserves; India readies matching response

Afghanistan defends surgical strikes in PoK, says India acted in self-defence