UPDATE Jan. 2, 12:06 a.m. EST:
Four terrorists are confirmed dead along with two IAF jawans (junior soldiers), according to NDTV and Hindustan Times. The gunfight reportedly ended at 8 a.m. local time.
--
A group of terrorists launched an attack at the Air Force base in the north Indian city of Pathankot early Saturday morning. Two were reportedly shot and killed by police. The terrorists are believed to be between four and six in number and are reported to have launched the attack from an official vehicle around 3.30 a.m. IST. The perpetrators are reported to be wearing army uniforms.
Gunbattle btwn terrorists & security forces in Pathankot Air Force Station underway. 2 terrorists killed until now. pic.twitter.com/TzYXQulOfz
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 2, 2016
Indian Defense Ministry spokesman Nitin Wakankar said that two of the attackers have been killed, reports the BBC. DIG (Border) Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh said in an update that operations are on to neutralize the rest, reports the Times of India.
The National Security Guard has been mobilized and UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) have been launched to help the Army and Air Force combat the attack. Reports suggest that the terrorists have been contained in the domestic area of Pathankot Air Force Station. The technical area of the airbase and all Air Force assets are reported safe, according to The Tribune. Pathankot Air Base is home to the MiG 29 fighter air crafts.
The incident is probably connected to the hijacking of a police car on Jan. 1, when a police officer, Salwinder Singh, assistant commandant, 75th Battalion, PAP complex, Jalandhar, reported that five individuals in army fatigues had abducted him along with two of his acquaintances from a village near the international border. Singh said he was set free an hour later 35 km away.
Meanwhile J&K CM Omar Abdullah took to Twitter saying that the attack was the first major challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's handling of relations with Pakistan and his recent unscheduled visit to the neighboring country, reports The Indian Express. You can read more on that story here at HNGN. "From past experience I'm sure it emerge that these militants crossed over within the last few hours with the airbase as a specific target," Abdullah wrote in a tweet.
From past experience I'm sure it emerge that these militants crossed over within the last few hours with the airbase as a specific target. — Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) January 2, 2016
"We believe they are Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists," said an unnamed security official, according to the BBC.
This is the second terror attack in Punjab in the past year. You can read about the earlier terror attack here at HNGN.
