Pathankot terror attack: Larger tragedy may have been averted

NEW DELHI: A larger tragedy may have been averted as security forces countered an impending attack on an air force station in the wee hours of the morning in Pathankot. With terrorists hiding in the peripheries of soft targets like residential homes in the Cantonment area, sources point out that security forces had initiated a hunt for the group around the army and airforce installations 12 hours before the actual attack. Combing operations are still ongoing as sources confirm only two terrorists are dead.

The group of terrorists are assessed to have crossed the border from Bamiyal, in the Kathua sector, even as people around the country were ringing in the New Year. Dressed in military fatigues, the terrorists hijacked a local police superintendent's car on the morning of the 1st, driving the vehicle for two hours before it was found abandoned, 2km from the airbase and army cantonment area of Pathankot.

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After the abandoned car was traced, and further intelligence developed from telephone intercepts, security forces were on high alert. National Security Guard ( NSG) commandos were rushed to Pathankot on the 1st evening to prepare for the impending attack.

With forces at readiness, at about 3.30 am, members of the terrorist group were found attempting to scale the wall of the air base. The Defence Security Corps guards spotted the group and a fire fight erupted. The air force also deployed its Garud commandos and NSG personnel as the terrorists were isolated away from the technical area where the aircraft are located.

By 9:30 in the morning, 2 terrorists had been killed.Three air force personnel were killed in the firefight and combing operations for one terrorist is on. Sources indicate the terrorist group could be from Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit.

While the forces can congratulate themselves for speedy elimination of a potent threat, questions on how the terrorist group crossed the international border, yet again, will remain.