Over 15 Hours Later, Five Attackers Neutralised in Pathankot
Follow the latest developments on the terrorist attack at the Pathankot Air Base here.
A Summary of the Attack
In the early hours of Saturday, suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists entered the Pathankot Air Force Station with the alleged intention of destroying valuable air force assets. At 3.30 am, the terrorists, dressed in army fatigues, opened fire at the base. They clashed with security forces in an encounter that has now ended.
Officials confirm all attackers have been neutralised and three security forces personnel were martyred in the encounter. Some security personnel have sustained injuries.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was monitoring operations closely throughout.
Defence Ministry has stated that the government had intel about a possible attack and hence, systems were put in place to thwart any such attempts. No vital IAF asset has been damaged in the attack, defence ministry stated.
Security forces are now in the process of sanitising the area.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and President Pranab Mukherjee congratulate forces for successfully neutralising militants.
Television reports say the fifth terrorist has been gunned down. The body has been recovered which officially puts an end to the gunbattle, according to CNN-IBN.
The operation has come to an end 15 hours later.
In a statement, the defence ministry has said,
- There was intel about a likely attempt by terrorists to infiltrate into the military installation in Pathankot area.
- Preparatory actions had been taken by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to thwart any such attempt.
- The group of terrorists were detected by aerial surveillance platforms as soon as they entered the Air Force Station.
- Infiltrators were immediately contained within a limited area, preventing them from entering the Technical zone where high value assets are parked.
- Through timely and prompt action by all agencies, the likely plan of the terrorists has been foiled. Currently the operation is going on.
- The Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Air Command is personally supervising and coordinating with the Army, NSG and local civil police.
Meeting between Defence Minister Parrikar and the three service chiefs ends. Media to be briefed soon.
High-level meeting between Army Chief, Indian Air Force Chief, Navy Chief, NSA Ajit Doval and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar begins at South Block in New Delhi.
Hints of Cross-Border Terror Elements
Terrorists Have Established Links with Pakistan
CNN-IBN is quoting intelligence sources as saying that they intercepted four calls between 12.30 am and 2.30 am. The conversation, they say, was a mix of Punjabi and Multani, which establishes a link to Pakistan.
Pakistan Foreign Ministry Condemns Pathankot Attacks
An urgent press release by the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) condemned the Pathankot terrorist attacks.
Suspected ISI Spy to be Quizzed
Former IAF official, Ranjit, arrested for spying, to be quizzed by Delhi Police in custody in connection with attack in Pathankot.
Ranjit is a dismissed Air Force official, who allegedly shared secret documents with agencies backed by Pakistan’s ISI, has been arrested from Punjab. The arrest was made by the crime branch of Delhi Police and he had been sent to police custody for four days on December 29.
Who Are the Gunmen?
Inputs from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) indicate that the attackers are from the fidayeen group Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Sources within the IB have told The Quint, that in end-November and early-December, Pakistan’s ISI held meetings with members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahadeen and the Sikh separatist group Babbar Khalsa.
This meeting is said to have taken place in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and the discussion centred around intensifying terror attacks in Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir.
The Intelligence Bureau says that at this meeting, ISI promised funding to all these groups.
Three Terrorists Likely to be Present at the Air Force Base
MHA sources to The Quint have said that three more terrorists are likely to be present in the Pathankot Air Force Base. Sources have also said that NSG team reached Pathankot last night, before the attack. The government had several inputs about the terrorists.
IB Warned States that a Terror Attack was Imminent
The Quint has accessed the IB alert that was issued on 26 December on the possibility of a terror attack during New Year festivities.
Stand with Soldiers in this Fight: Lalu Yadav
Parkash Singh Badal to Visit Site of Attack
Blasts Inside Pathankot IAF Base
Blasts have been heard inside Pathankot IAF base. A helicopter, hovering overhead, is opening fire periodically, where the search for the fifth terrorist, suspected to be on the run, is on.
Security Tightened in Dehradun
Following the attacks, security has been tightened in Dehradun.
Sanjay Raut on the Pathankot Attacks
More Terrorists Suspected to be Hiding
Fresh gunfire has been reported, as more terrorists are suspected to be hiding in the area.
PMO Reviews Security Situation Following Pathankot Attack
CNN-IBN reports that the Prime Minister Office reviewed the security situation following the Pathankot attack, in a meeting that was attended by the National Security Agency (NSA), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Defence Ministry.
Fresh Gunfire in Pathankot
Following the conclusion of the encounter, fresh gunfire heard in Pathankot.
Any Attack on India Will Get a Fitting Reponse: Rajnath Singh
Speaking to the media, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that although Pakistan is India’s neighbour and that peace is desired between the two nations, any terrorist attack on India will receive a befitting response.
Punjab Cong Chief on the Attacks:
Encounter Over, Security Forces Sanitising the Area
Air Force sources to The Quint have confirmed that a huge number of commandos were stationed in Pathankot air base last night.
An Air Force officer said that the operation was successful because security forces were prepared and took precautionary measures before the attack. The encounter is now over, and security forces are sanitising the area.
Manohar Parrikar to Hold Meeting with Security Officials in the Evening
Security Stepped up in Delhi, NCT
Security has been stepped up in the national capital today in the wake of the terrorist attack at the Air Force Base in Pathankot.
Four Security Forces Personnel Dead
CNN-IBN reports that four security forces personnel have died in the attack, while other agencies continue to report that 2 jawans have been martyred in Pathankot encounter.
Terrorists from Bahawalpur, Pakistan
ANI sources say that terrorists had entered India, undetected, three days ago. They are suspected to belong to Bahawalpur in Pakistan.
Air Force Pre-empted Attack, Was Prepared
Air Force sources said to The Quint that a senior Air force officer flew to Pathankot last night, before the attack, after he heard the news of SP Salwinder Singh’s car being hijacked on the Jammu Kashmir highway. He said that since the base is close to Gurdaspur, as a proactive measure, they were prepared for an attack. There was no specific information on Pathankot.
The IB had issued warning to all states on the basis of RAW inputs that there would a terror attack on New Year’s day on some government installation or structure and that terrorists had already crossed the border.
Pathankot MLA Says Two Terrorists Killed in Encounter
Pathankot MLA, Ashwani Sharma, has said that two terrorists have been killed, and the forces fighting the terrorists have sustained some injuries.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Responds to the Attack
NSA Ajit Doval Monitoring Ops
CNN-IBN reports that National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is co-ordinating the operation against the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists.
4 Jaish-e-Mohammed Terrorists, 1 Jawan Dead in Encounter
CNN-IBN reports that around 6 or 7 suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists entered the air base around 1 am this morning with the intention of destroying it. The terrorists have been unable to reach the technical area of the air base and have been restricted in the domestic area.
So far, 4 terrorists and a jawan have died in the encounter.
According to CNN-IBN sources, advance intel thwarted what could have been a much more serious attack.
Terrorist Attack at Pathankot Air Base, SP Salwinder Singh’s Car Hijacked by Suspected Terrorists
Two terrorists have been killed in the encounter between security forces and terrorists at the Pathankot Air Force Station early this morning. DIG (Border) Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh has confirmed that helicopters have been dispatched to the area to assist in the operation.
Four or five terrorists stormed the base in army fatigues, opening fire at the air force station. The encounter began at 3.30 am near the air base. National Security Gaurd (NSG) team and Garud Commando Force are engaged in fierce gun battle with the terrorists at present.
A high alert was sounded in Punjab on January 1, after 4-5 suspected Pakistani terrorists in army uniform abducted and thrashed Pathankot Superintendent of Police and his two associates. The suspected terrorists dumped them some distance away, before speeding away in his vehicle.
SP Salwinder Singh claimed that he, his friend and an employee of his were returning after paying obeisance at Narot Jaimal Singh area last night, when five men signaled them to stop. As they stopped their vehicle, all five men barged inside the vehicle and began beating them. He claimed that one of them took the driver’s seat and drove towards Pathankot.
The location of the incident is just about 15 kms from the border with Pakistan.
Police said the vehicle, which the terrorists abandoned later, was recovered near Dhira village, in Bihar.
(With agency inputs)
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