Three militants attacked a paramilitary base in the high-security Humhama area outside Srinagar city this morning, leading to a prolonged gunfight in which all assailants and an Assistant Sub-Inspector of the Border Security Force (BSF) were killed.

The militants lobbed grenades and opened indiscriminate fire at guards, forcing their entry into the camp housing the headquarters of BSF’s 182 Battalion situated near the Srinagar International Airport and the Air Force base here.

One militant was killed in the initial gunfight that began around 4 am while two other managed to enter the camp and positioned themselves in the mess building and the administrative block, IGP Kashmir Munir Khan said.

The two buildings, located in the middle of the camp, were pounded with small firearms. “The intention to cause major damage to the BSF was foiled,” Khan said.

As the gunfight raged inside the BSF camp, the airport authorities temporarily suspended operations. “The first flight arrived at 10 am, instead of 7.30 am, as we were sanitising the area,” said Airport Director Sharad Kumar.

The gunfight continued intermittently for around 10 hours before the last militant, who had barricaded himself inside the building, was killed.

Even as senior officials downplayed the attack, it was a serious breach of security as the BSF base is located in a high-security zone that houses a civilian airport and IAF base. The area also houses the police headquarters and a residential colony of senior police officers and politicians.

The IGP claimed the Jaish-e-Mohammad was involved and those killed were part of the fidayeen group that had attacked the Pulwama District Police Lines in August.