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| Punjab: Terrorists attack on IAF base; three personnel, five terrorists killed | | |
Agencies
PATHANKOT, Jan 2: Heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists today carried out a pre-dawn strike at the Air Force base here, triggering a fierce gunbattle in which three securitymen and all five infiltrators were killed, days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surprise stopover in Lahore.
With the obvious intention of destroying fighter jets and attack helicopters housed there, up to six terrorists in army fatigues attempted to storm the base which is barely 35 kms from the international border with Pakistan but failed to go beyond the outer periphery.
In heavy exchange of fire, a commando and two other personnel of the IAF were killed along with five of the attackers. Blasts and intermittent exchange of fire was continuing this evening.
There was no clarity as to the number of attackers who are believed to have infiltrated from Pakistan and there was speculation that they may belong to Jaish-e-Mohammad headed Maulana Masood Azhar of the Kandahar hijack episode.
Security personnel, which included commandos from NSG, Army and Air Force, appeared to be preparing for an extended operation as the night fell and resistance continued.
The terrorists, who are said to have infiltrated three days ago, launched the first ever attack on an Indian Air base at around 3.30 am, their obvious targets being MiG-21 fighter aircraft and MI-25 attack helicopters.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh did not rule out the possibility of involvement of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror outfit in the attack.
"The case will be probed by the NIA but the possibility of JeM being behind the attack cannot be ruled out," he said.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar cut short his stay in Goa in the wake of the attack and returned to Delhi where he held a high level meeting which was attended by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and three Service chiefs.
"Through timely and prompt action by all agencies, the likely plan of the terrorists to destroy valuable assets of the Air Force has been foiled," IAF said in a statement after the meeting.
The terrorists could not go beyond the 'langar' (eating place) near the outer perimeter of the IAF complex as the security forces were ready to take them on, officials said about the operation which was supervised directly by the NSA.
Initially, it was estimated that four terrorists were involved, with a top Punjab Police official announcing the end of the operation after killing of four attackers.
However, after a brief lull, sounds of gunshots and blasts were again heard as the security forces started a combing operation.
The security establishment had anticipated a terror attack after some armed men abducted an SP of Punjab Policeon Thursday night and as a result a team of NSG commandos had been rushed here last night itself after the NSA held a series of meetings with the Army Chief and top IB officials yesterday. Two columns of army (comprising about 50 men) were also positioned at the Air base, officials said.
"Intelligence inputs had been available of a likely attempt by terrorists to infiltrate into the military installation in Pathankot area. In response, preparatory actions had been taken by the Indian Air Force to thwart any such attempt," the IAF statement said.
"Due to the effective preparation and coordinated efforts by all the security agencies a group of terrorists were detected by the aerial surveillance platforms as soon as they entered the Air Force Station at Pathankot," it added.
The Air Force said "The infiltrators were immediately engaged and contained within a limited area, thus preventing them from entering the Technical zone where high value assets are parked."
IAF was using its two attack helicopters to assist the joint team of ground troops to neutralise the remaining terrorists, the sources said.
The terrorists, with huge quantity of RDX in their possession, made their way to the base from the back side where there is a jungle, they said. |
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