Kathua terror attack: As it happened

Jammu: A 'fidayeen' squad of LeT militants in Army fatigues stormed a police station in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, killing four persons, including three security personnel, and leaving 10 others injured in the wee hours of Friday. Two militants were also killed in the subsequent encounter with security forces that ended around noon.

Here are the Live Updates:

• Rajnath Singh ji has made a statement in LS, Kathua attack issue shouldn't be politicised: Rudy
• Centre has no soft policy as far as terrorists are concerned: Rudy
• Govt has policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism: RP Rudy, BJP
• We are clearing the area, verifying the facts and will examine the documents we have recovered from militants: Danesh Rana, IG, J&K Police.
• Six persons - 2 militants, 2 CRPF jawans, 1 cop and one civilian – killed in the attack, 10 others injured, confirms J&K Police.
• I want to congratulate the security forces who bravely managed to gun down the militants in Kathua: Rajnath Singh

  Our security forces have done commendable work in Kathua. They have eliminated two terrorists who attacked a police station this morning. — Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) March 20, 2015

  We lost a CRPF jawan in this terrorist attack. I salute his bravery and express my heartfelt condolences to his family. — Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) March 20, 2015

  I also pray for speedy recovery of those jawans who were injured in today's terror attack.

  — Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) March 20, 2015

• We admire and commend the work done by our security forces: Rajnath Singh
• A civilian who was shot down by militant has our sympathies: Rajnath Singh
• J&K Police and CRPF personnel have killed two terrorists, says Rajnath Singh
• Two militants have been gunned down by our security forces: Rajnath Singh
• Home Minister Rajnath Singh makes statement in Lok Sabha
• We want the Home Minister to make a statement in Lok Sabha
• Intelligence isn't acting actively on Kathua encounter: Kharge
• BJP backed govt in J&K is not listening to the Centre: Congress
• Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge charges Centre of not paying due attention to J&K.
• Opposition raises Kathua terror attack issue in Lok Sabha.

• Two suspected LeT terrorists killed in the encounter, search ops going on, reports ANI.
• There are some militants on the upper floors of building, situation is in control though: Nirmal Singh, Dy CM, J&K.
• What do you expect under a CM who released Masrat Alam, asks Shiv sena leader Sanjay Raut
• It's clear from this that AFSPA shouldn't be withdrawn for political reasons: Jitendra Singh, MoS, PMO
• The entire area has been cordoned off, they are looking for the gunmen: Akhtar
• Want to tell those behind this attack that govt will make every effort to stop such attacks: Akhtar
• We condemn this attack strongly,  says Naeem Akhtar, PDP
• I am yet to get information on Kathua attack, says Kiren Rijiju (MoS Home).
• "It is a fidayeen attack," says IGP Jammu Danish Rana.
• Security forces have killed one militant during the operation, says an injured CRPF constable Bharat Prabhu.

• J&K Deputy CM Nirmal Singh confirms terror attack in Kathua.
• Tribute to those who died in Kathua attack. Our neighbor is not rectifying their ways: Jitendra Singh, MoS, PMO.
• Three jawans reported dead in the attack, nine injured.
• Rajnath Singh brief PM Modi, top NDA ministers about Kathua attack.

• Home Minister Rajnath Singh will give a statement in Lok Sabha on Kathua attack, reports PTI.
• Unfortunately such activities show the sadness & frustration of terror groups: MA Naqvi, BJP.
• Lot of grenades were thrown at us, I think there are minimum three militants: CRPF jawan.

• Bhim Singh of the NPP said the Kathua attack is the consequence of BJP-PDP Govt in Jammu and Kashmir. This government is responsible for utter failure of security apparatus here, he added.
• Army and J&K police should be given free hand to eliminate terrorism completely, Pakistan has breached trust again, said Ravinder Raina of the BJP.
• Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad condemned the attack and said it's sad that the peace process hasn't even concluded and the terror attack has happened.
• This is a planned attack to create confusion, our police forces wont let them go, SR Sinho, defence expert said while reacting to the Kathua terror attack.
• According to latest update, at least 9 people - 7 from CRPF, one policeman and one civilian – have been injured in the attack. The death of one policeman has also been confirmed.

• Abdullah alleged repetition of past pattern, saying the terrorists would have walked across border last night and launched the attack.
• Former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah also took to twitter to confirm the terror attack in the Kathua locality.

  These Fidayeen will have walked across the border last night & launched their attack this morning which is the past pattern as well. — Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) March 20, 2015

  My thoughts are with those brave security personnel dealing with the Fidayeen attack in Kathua town of Jammu this morning. — Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) March 20, 2015

• Acting on the instructions from the Home Ministry, Home Secretary LC Goyal speaks to Jammu and Kashmir DGP about Kathua attack and seeks details.  
• The MHA is in touch with agencies of J&K, a tweet from the PMO said.

  The Union Home Minister has instructed the Home Secretary to actively monitor the situation. The MHA is in touch with the agencies of J&K — HMO India (@HMOIndia) March 20, 2015

• Rajnath Singh is also expected to make a statement in Lok Sabha on the Kathua terror attack later today.
• Home Minister Rajnath Singh instructs the Home Secretary to actively monitor Kathua situation.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is also closely monitoring the situation.

  HM spoke to the DGP of J&K and the heads of other security agencies regrading the terrorist attack in Kathua district. — HMO India (@HMOIndia) March 20, 2015

• One policeman is reported to be dead, three civilians inured.
• Some media channels report the death of three policemen in the attack.
• A high alert has been sounded in schools and colleges in the region.  
• Traffic on the strategic highway has been stopped due to terror attack.
• Militants reportedly entered the police station, 65 kms from here on the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway.
• Additional reinforcements being rushed to the spot.
• Heavy gunfight begins to neutralise the militants, who are holed up inside the police station.
• Militants, wearing military uniforms and carrying automatic weapons, hurl grenades at Rajbagh police station.
• Militants open indiscriminate firing targeting policemen present there.
• A group of 3-4 highly-trained militants attack Rajbagh Police Station in the wee hours today.

At least twelve people were killed on September 26, 2013 when guerrillas had attacked Hiranagar police station in Kathua district and later entered an army camp on the Jammu-Pathankote national highway.