5 terrorists neutralised so far in Pathankot

New Delhi/Srinagar: The NIA on Monday registered three cases to probe the entire conspiracy behind the strike at the Pathankot IAF base, believed to have been carried out by the Pakistan-based JeM. The cases were initially registered by local police stations in Pathankot that were transferred and handed over to the National Investigation Agency. SP Salwinder Singh, who was shunted out from Gurdaspur to take charge as assistant commandant of the 75th battalion of the Punjab Armed Police, is likely to be questioned on the terrorists who had hijacked his vehicle. Sources said two terrorists of the suspected group of six might have entered the Pathankot airbase before a Punjab Police SP was kidnapped by them and much before an alert was sounded on their presence in the area.

A total of five terrorists have been neutralised so far in the operation. while one Garud commando, one NSG officer and five personnel of the Defence Security Corps lost their lives while fighting the terrorists. Seventeen security personnel were also injured.

Experts have, meanwhile, deprecated the “lack of coordination” in the handling of the Pathankot airbase attack, and questioned the multiplicity of agencies involved in the operation.