Samba Army Camp Terrorist Attack

The Samba Army Camp Terrorist Attack was a fidayeen-style terrorist assault on the 16th Light Cavalry Army camp at Samba, Jammu & Kashmir, on 26 September 2013. The attack formed part of a coordinated twin terrorist assault in the Jammu region. Heavily armed terrorists dressed in Army fatigues first attacked the Hiranagar Police Station in Kathua district and subsequently moved towards an Army camp in the Samba sector. After reaching the Samba area, the terrorists entered the camp of 16 Light Cavalry, an Armoured Corps regiment, and stormed the Officers' Mess complex. The attackers opened fire on personnel inside the camp, creating a close-quarter firefight and forcing the Army to rapidly deploy troops and armoured assets. Lieutenant Colonel Bikram Jit Singh, the second-in-command of 16 Light Cavalry, immediately moved to organise the response after hearing automatic weapon fire. He identified a terrorist attempting to move through a nala towards the Officers' Married Accommodation area and helped establish a close cordon despite being unarmed. He was subsequently fatally wounded during the engagement. Army reinforcements and the unit's Quick Reaction Team were deployed to contain the terrorists. Tanks were also brought into the camp and used during the operation. Commandos were subsequently brought in to assist in eliminating the attackers. The three terrorists were eventually killed after several hours of fighting. Four Army personnel, including Lieutenant Colonel Bikram Jit Singh, were killed in the Samba Army camp attack, while other personnel were wounded. The attack ended after the terrorists were neutralised and the Army camp was secured. The incident resulted in an Army Court of Inquiry being ordered to examine the circumstances of the attack and related security aspects. For his exceptional courage and leadership during the attack, Lieutenant Colonel Bikram Jit Singh of 16 Light Cavalry was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra in 2014.