New Delhi, January 2Former International rifle shooter Subedar Major Fateh Singh (retd), who won a gold and silver at Commonwealth Shooting Championship in the capital back in 1995, was martyred while fighting terrorist in Pathankot.He was 51 years old and was part of the Defence Security Core (DSC). He was posted with the Dogra regiment.Parent body of shooting the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) condoled the death of the former international player who lost his life while fighting for his motherland.NRAI president Raninder Singh said: “The country has lost its beloved son and a sharp shooter. May the Almighty grant peace to the great soldier.“The shooting fraternity prays for the departed soul and hope the Almighty gives strength to the family of this great soldier to bear with their irreparable loss,” he added.After retirement, he joined the Defence Security Corps (India) as subedar and was initially posted at Army War College, Mhow.He was posted in Pathankot about two years ago. He had won gold in the Big Bore Rifle Three Position and silver in Big Bore Rifle Prone Position at the Commonwealth Shooting Championships in 1995.”He was a thorough gentlemen and great athlete. He worked as an active member of Indian shooting team. It is a very sad day for us. He sacrificed his life for the country. I condole his death,” the NRAI president said.”He was a fantastic shooter. He won gold in Big Bore Rifle Three Position and silver in Big Bore Rifle Prone Postion at the Commonwealth Shooting Championships. He used to represent the Army,” NRAI secretary Rajiv Bhatia said.CK Chaudhury, a pistol shooter at the Army Marksmenship Unit in Mhow, said: “Fateh Singh was an inspiration to all of us. He was like my guru and guardian when we were together a part of the shooting team at the Army Marksmenship Unit in Mhow.” — Agencies

Terrorists may have sneaked in through Bamiyal

New Delhi, January 2

The four heavily armed Pakistani terrorists, who carried out the suicide attack on the IAF base, are believed to have infiltrated into India during the intervening night of December 30-31 from a spot near Bamiyal village in Pathankot, located close to the international border.The terrorists, official sources said, crossed over near Shakargarh in Pakistan to Bamiyal village and later changed into Army fatigues before kidnapping Salwinder Singh, a Superintendent of Police-rank officer, who was shunted out from Gurdaspur to take charge as Assistant Commandant of 75th battalion of Punjab Armed Police, at Kolian village.There were three occupants in the vehicle when it was hijacked by four militants that included Singh’s jeweller friend Rajesh Verma and the driver.While the terrorists slit the throat of other two, the police officer, who is facing charges of alleged breach of discipline, was released later and the vehicle was abandoned at Tajpur village, 2 km from the IAF’s Pathankot airbase.One of the militants is alleged to have used the phone of the jeweller, who is undergoing treatment at a hospital, to make a call to Bhawalpur in Pakistan which was intercepted by intelligence agencies.After the daylong operation today, all five terrorists, suspected to be from Jaish-e-Mohammed terror outfit, were eliminated by the joint team of police, army and NSG.The area from where the terrorists crossed over has thick foliage of elephant grass which provides an automatic cover for them, they said.A tributary of the Beas enters into Pakistan from this village and this route is quite famous for drug smugglers to enter India. — PTI

Porous’ border

• The four armed Pakistani terrorists who struck the IAF base are believed to have infiltrated into India on the intervening night of December 30-31 from a spot near Bamiyal village in Pathankot
• The terrorists, official sources say, crossed over near Shakargarh in Pakistan to Bamiyal village and later changed into Army fatigues before kidnapping an SP-rank officer at Kolian village

Major Terrorist attacks in Punjab over the last 15 years

March 1, 2001: A 135-yard underground tunnel detected by security personnel across the India-Pakistan border in Gurdaspur district. The tunnel was suspected to have dug by terroristsJanuary 1, 2002: Three Army personnel killed and five others injured when unidentified terrorists attacks them at a firing range in Damtal, close to Punjab’s border HimachalJanuary 31, 2002: Two persons killed and at least 12 injured after an explosion ripped a bus belonging to the Punjab Roadways at Patrana in Hoshiarpur districtMarch 31, 2002: Two people killed and 28 others injured in a bomb blast on Ferozepur-Dhanbad Express train at Daroha, 20 km from Ludhiana. The bomb was allegedly planted by terroristsApril 28, 2006: At least eight persons wounded in a bomb blast on a bus carrying 45 passengers at Jalandhar bus terminus. No one took the responsibility for the blastOctober 14, 2007: Seven persons, including a 10-year old child, killed and 40 injured in a bomb blast at Shringar cinema hall in Ludhiana. The hall was full on the festive occasion of IdJuly 27, 2015: Seven persons, including a Superintendent of Police, killed when three terrorists carry out a strike on a police station in Gurdaspur district. All three militants also killedJanuary 2, 2016: Five terrorists and three security personnel killed when militants in Army fatigues storm an Indian Air Force base during early hours in Pathankot district.  — PTI