Pathankot Operation ends, 5 Terrorists killed

Pathankot Operation ends,  5 Terrorists killed

Pathankot/New Delhi: Five terrorists suspected to be from Pakistan and three IAF Security personnel, were killed in a gunfight that lasted for about 15 hours at Pathankot in Punjab on Saturday, 2^nd January 2016.

The terrorists  breached a high-security security perimeter and entered a frontline Indian Air Force (IAF) base near Pathankot town in northern Punjab in the wee hour to carry out a Fidayeen attack.

According to Police sources at least three IAF security personnel were killed and four others were injured in the terror attack that started around 3.30 a.m. The counter offensive lasted nearly 15 hours.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expresses proudness on the courage of Indian defensemen. He said ‘Enemies of humanity who can't see India progress, such elements attacked in Pathankot but our security forces did not let them succeed’ President Pranab Mukherjee condemned the Terror attack.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the Indian armed forces for successfully neutralising all five terrorists in Pathankot Operation.

 “We have also lost security personnel in the Pathankot attack. My heartfelt condolences to their families. We can never forget their sacrifice,” the home minister in his tweet in the eveing.

Though the firing initially stopped around 9 a.m. after four of the terrorists were neutralised, sounds of firing and grenade explosions were again heard around 11.30 a.m. The counter-offensive ended after nearly 15 hours as the lone surviving terrorist engaged the security agencies in a gun battle inside the base, located around 250 km Chandigarh.

The MIG-21 Bison fighter jets, MI-35 attack helicopters, missiles and other critical assets of the IAF at the base were secure and the terrorists were prevented from getting near the technical area where these were stationed, IAF sources said.