Is another terror group out there to target trains?

NEW DELHI: Intelligence agencies are working on two assumptions in the wake of the Punjab terror attack. Either terrorists from the same outfit as the Gurdaspur attackers are still out there, or a completely different module is operating in the region trying to target trains.

There are no definite leads yet, but the assumption is strong enough for the agencies to ask state police forces in the region, including Delhi, to remain on high alert.

Five IEDs were recovered on the Amritsar-Pathankot route on Monday, about five km from Dinanagar, where the terrorists struck.

Officials deduce that the bombs may have been planted in three possible scenarios. The first is that the terrorists who stormed the police station may have planted the explosives. Second, the trio may have been accompanied by others who planted the bombs.

If the second scenario is true, then the group of terrorists who infiltrated with the three are still out there, and hunting them down is a priority, an official pointed out. A third possibility is also worrying the security agencies, of a separate group operating in the region targeting trains.

The three terrorists who stormed the Dinanagar police station had enough ammunition to fire in bursts for at least 48 hours, police said.

Apart from three AK-47s, 19 magazines, each loaded with 24 rounds of fire, were recovered from the terrorists killed. The AK-47 can fire up to 40 rounds when used in a semi-auto mode and 100 rounds in the full-auto mode. Police said the guns were in semi-auto mode, thereby implying "they wanted to keep firing 4-6 bursts at our men and kill as many as possible".