A year since Dinanagar, army-police mock drill at Pathankot

PATHANKOT: Army today conducted a joint mock drill with the Punjab Police here to see their preparedness to thwart any attempted terrorists strike, ahead of terror attack at Dinanagar completing a year.

The massive drill saw deployment of choppers, paratroopers, and Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) commandos to check operational preparedness and coordination between various security agencies.

"We today conducted a joint mock drill with the army here to see how we the security agencies are prepared if any terror-like situation arises," Pathankot SSP Rakesh Kaushal said.

The drill was carried out at Adarsh Puri Temple Parmanand which is 5-6 km away from Dinanagar, in Gurdaspur district, which was struck by terror attack last year on July 27.

In the drill, the SSP, the SP, two DSPs, a team of Punjab police's SWAT commandos and more than 100 cops participated.

Major General Rajesh Chopra, commanding officer of 29 infantry division of Mamun cantt, led the army men, said the SSP.

"In future more such exercises will be carried out in Pathankot district," he said.

Three heavily-armed terrorists wearing army fatigues, had stormed a police station in Dinanagar town in Gurdaspur district on July 27 last year killing seven persons, including a Superintendent of Police, before they were gunned down during a day-long operation.

On January 2, this year, terrorists had attacked Pathankot airforce base.