Deenanagar attack: SWAT team's creation bears fruit

CHANDIGARH: An idea floated four years ago by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to establish a crack commando force in Punjab has borne fruit with the state's SWAT team bringing down all three heavily-armed terrorists who struck at Deenanagar today.

The SWAT team put its training to good use and gave a befitting reply to the terrorists who struck Deenanagar of Gurdaspur district.

The Deputy CM, in a statement, said the idea to form a highly-trained commando outfit came about after the Mumbai attack when crucial time was lost in tackling the terrorists holed up in the Taj Mahal hotel because the NSG team was stationed in Delhi.

He said the new team created in Punjab is not only equipped with the latest weaponry but has trained by Israeli experts.

"Moreover, they are highly motivated and equipped to handle every exigency," he added.

Badal said that 28 members of the team were involved in an exercise at Amritsar and therefore could be deployed to Deenanagar immediately.

The deputy chief minister said the team has equipped itself commendably and he had asked DGP Sumedh Singh Saini to reward them for the exemplary valour and dedication shown by then in neutralising the terrorists.