Rachna Khaira,Tribune News Service,Bamyal (Pathankot), January
For all the talk of Intelligence alerts and a heavy security apparatus in place, the check-posts at Bamyal, considered a hotbed for infiltrators dot on the International Border with Pakistan, were found unmanned when a Tribune team visited the area today.Due to multiple porus points that can facilitate infiltration here, the Border Security Force is yet to identify the place from where the terrorists involved in the attack on the Pathankot air base could have sneaked in.Though underground and over-ground sentry posts are constructed along the border, these were found unmanned.According to villagers, the Army used to guard these posts in the village five to six years ago, but these were not used once the BSF took over. Even as a high-level meeting of BSF IG Anil Paliwal and DG Mahesh Kumar Singla was in progress at the Bamyal check-post amidst tight security on Sunday evening, the Tribune team managed to go right up to the International Border fence in a private vehicle without any checking by the BSF jawans.Two rivers, Jalaliya and Ujh Dariya, pass through the village and enter Pakistan. Both are unfenced and are reportedly considered the hotbed of infiltrators and drug cartels.The 22-km area falling between the International Border and Pathankot too was found unguarded. A police station and a sentry post en route were ill-equipped to guard a border town with a high rate of infiltration. Even the road constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Yojana connecting the border village to Pathankot was found to be completely immersed in dark with no streetlights. Though BSF IG Paliwal could not be contacted due to his engagement in the ongoing operation, a senior official of the Punjab Frontier on condition of anonymity said that the border check-posts were empty as the cops were busy in patrolling and combing the entire area.DIG Kunwar Vijay Pratap said the area always remained under strict vigilance by the Army, police and BSF, but also stated that it is not possible to guard the area every minute of the day. “We have ample security and vigilance arrangements along the border but then we cannot guard it every minute,” he said.
Under scanner, then ‘martyr’
Ravi Dhaliwal,Tribune News Service,Pathankot, January 3
As the Punjab Police hunt for the Indian contacts of the Pathankot attackers, the role of 24-year-old Ikagar Singh, who was kidnapped and killed by the terrorists before they abducted SP Salwinder Singh from Kolian in Pathankot, continues to confound the security personnel.Bhagwal, Ikagar’s native village, is 500 metres away from the Pakistan border.Though the police were viewing Ikagar’s case with suspicion since yesterday morning, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal visited his house in the evening and gave Rs5 lakh relief to his family as well as a job for his wife.Badal also said that the road leading to his house would be re-constructed and named after Ikagar, repeatedly referred to as a “martyr” by the CM.Director General of Police Suresh Arora neither confirmed nor denied the development. He said Ikagar’s alleged involvement with the terrorists was an “assumption”, and that the police “cannot rule out anything”. A senior officer claimed Ikagar’s mobile phone had been confiscated and the numbers he had last dialled were being verified. Unconfirmed reports said the Pakistani handlers of the Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists allegedly called up Ikagar and had asked him to arrange a car for the attackers.Ikagar was allegedly kidnapped from Kolian village bus stand, 5 km from his native village, and later killed. His Innova car was taken away and it was recovered from near Kathlour bridge, 6 km from the border. The terrorists had apparently driven the car and sources claim they had to abandon it after two of its tyres got punctured.
IAF Base Attacked
Attack may hamper talks: Pak mediaIslamabad: Pakistani media on Sunday said the brazen attack by militants at a key Indian Air Force base will pose a “challenge to attempts to resurrect” the dialogue process between the two neighbours despite the goodwill generated by recent high-level meetings between their leaders. On its front page lead, the Express Tribune said the attack was over but it posed a “challenge to attempts to resurrect a moribund dialogue process”. PTI
US asks all countries to disrupt terror networksWashington: The US on Sunday asked all countries in the region to work together to disrupt and dismantle terrorist networks. “The US condemns the terrorist attack on an Air Force base in Punjab on January 2. We extend our condolences to the victims and their families. The US is committed to its strong partnership with the Indian government to combat terrorism,” said State Department spokesman John Kirby. PTI
NIA to register case todayNew Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) will register a case on Monday to probe into the conspiracy of Pakistan-based terrorist group, believed to be Jaish-e-Mohammed, behind the strike at the IAF base in Pathankot. A team of NIA was at the spot yesterday as per the standard operating procedure and today the Government decided to hand over the case to the NIA after taking concurrence from the Punjab Government, sources said. PTI
PM chairs meeting on attack New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday night held a meeting with top officials to discuss the Pathankot terror attack. Soon after returning from his two-day visit to Karnataka, Modi chaired a meeting of top officials, including National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar. Earlier during the day, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar briefed Modi on the latest situation at the Pathankot air base. PTI
Pakistan effigy set on firePathankot: A fresh anti-Pakistan protest broke out in Pathankot town on Sunday with locals burning an effigy of the neighbouring nation following the terror attack at the Air Force base here. A number of local residents raised anti-Pakistan slogans close to the Air Force station where the attack took place. They set Pakistan’s effigy on fire, holding the country responsible for continued attacks in Punjab. PTI
Alert issued in Mumbai
Mumbai: An alert has been issued in the city by the Mumbai Police and cops have intensified night patrolling in the wake of the Pathankot terror attack. “The police have started doing naka-bandi at several places in the megalopolis. Suspicious activities are being checked at railway stations, lodges and hotels,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection) Dhananjay Kulkarni said. PTI
Terrorists failed to destroy assets: Home SecyNew Delhi: The terrorists who attacked the IAF base near Pathankot in Punjab failed to destroy the IAF assets due to timely action by security forces, Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi said on Sunday. “Because of early action, the terrorists were unable to move to their likely intended aim but were contained in an area of heavy growth of trees and shrubs and surrounded. Therefore, the main apparent aim of the terrorists stands defeated,” he said. — PTI
Militants vowed to avenge Afzal’s execution Pathankot: The name of Afzal Guru, who was hanged for the Parliament attack in 2001, was invoked by the militants when they told SP Salwinder Singh and his two acquaintances that “hum to Afzal Guru ki maut ka badla lene ayein hain (We have come to avenge the death of Afzal Guru).” This was confirmed by Rajesh Verma, a Gurdaspur resident who is recuperating in a private hospital after his throat was slit open by the terrorists. — TNS
Security up at Hindon Air baseGhaziabad: Security at Hindon Air Force base on the outskirts of the national capital has been stepped up. Senior Superintendent of Police Dharmendra Singh said that a combing operation was conducted in areas surrounding the Air Force station. Hindon Air Force base is the largest air base in Asia. “All senior police officers and personnel from various police stations were immediately summoned and a combing operation was conducted,” Singh said. — PTI