Gurdaspur terror attack: Operation over, all terrorists killed

Security forces on Monday killed all four terrorists, who carried out a series of planned attacks in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district, according to Reuters. The gun battle between the security forces and terrorists continued for more than ten hours.

According to police, they heard terrorists shouting 'Allah hu Akbar' (God is great) before the start of the intense gunfight, indicating the assault was a suicide attack.

The militants wearing army uniform went on a rampage attacking a bus, a health centre and a police station in the morning. At least six people were killed in the attack, including Punjab Police SP (detective) Baljeet Singh.

The terrorists first struck a bus in Dinanagar at around 5 a.m., injuring four passengers. According to police, the militants also shot dead a roadside vendor near Dinanagar bypass before entering the Dinanagar police station where they injured five policemen.

Attacks on security installations by militants dressed as army men or police are very common in Jammu and Kashmir, but Monday's was the first such assault in Punjab in 13 years, according to data from the South Asia Terrorism Portal, which tracks militant violence.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said that the country will give a befitting reply. "We will not be the first to strike, but if we are hit, we will give a befitting reply. We want peace with Pakistan, but not at the cost of national honour," he said.

The minister said that he would make a statement over the attack in Parliament tomorrow after the Opposition created a ruckus in Parliament.

In a related development, five live bombs were also found on Amritsar-Pathankot railway track.

(Image: Indiatimes/Reuters/IANS)