Why Indian Army`s Uri base in Kashmir is on militants` radar - 7 key facts

Srinagar: Terrorists sneaked into an army camp near the brigade headquarters in Jammu and Kashmir's garrison town of Uri early on Friday and slaughtered 17 soldiers in the worst attack on a military centre in the state in a decade.

The attack also left all four heavily-armed militants who barged into the camp at 5.30 am dead after two-and-a-half hours of gunfight, military officials said.

Here are the key points why the Army's Uri base is on the militants’ radar:

1. The Indian Army's Uri base is one of its most important garrisons in Kashmir and guards our border (LoC) with Pakistan.

2. The fortified base is the headquarters of the 12 Brigade and houses over 12,000 soldiers at any given point.

3. The facility is vulnerable to attacks since it is close to the LoC and reportedly approachable from the border on three sides.

4. The base is at a lower altitude and hence visible from the higher reaches across the border.

5. The base is reportedly under constant observation from the Pakistani army posts.

6. The garrison town of Uri has been targeted by militants before. In December 2014, killed 8 soldiers and 3 policemen were martyred in a terror attack.

7. In the latest attack, 17 soldiers were martyred and more than 30 injured, worst single attack on the army in 26 years.