- Title: Gunmen attack Indian Air Force base near Pakistan border
- Date: 2nd January 2016
- Summary: PATHANKOT, PUNJAB, INDIA (JANUARY 2, 2016) (ANI - NO ACCESS BBC) POLICE PERSONNEL STANDING ON A BARRICADED ROAD POLICE PERSONNEL ARRIVING IN VEHICLES MORE OF POLICE PERSONNEL STANDING PATHANKOT, PUNJAB, INDIA (JANUARY 2, 2016) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI - NO ACCESS BBC) POLICE PERSONNEL CLEARING THE WAY FOR A TRUCK ARRIVING ON SPOT TRUCK LEAVING POLICE PERSONNEL AND CIVILIANS STANDING NEXT TO BARRICADE (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) LEGISLATOR OF PATHANKOT, ASHWANI SHARMA, SAYING: "The operation began after 4:00 am (2230 GMT). Two militants have been killed so far and some people from our side have also been injured. Four to five militants are suspected to be inside and hopefully soon we will be able to successfully neutralize the base." LUDHIANA, PUNJAB, INDIA (JANUARY 2, 2016) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI - NO ACCESS BBC) POLICEMAN STANDING ON GUARD, HOLDING GUN VARIOUS OF POLICE PERSONNEL CHECKING VEHICLE POLICE PERSONNEL STANDING ON GUARD AS VEHICLES PASS BY MORE OF POLICE PERSONNEL CHECKING A VEHICLE POLICE MAN FRISKING A BAG (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) STATION HOUSE OFFICER (SHO), SARABHA NAGAR, SURINDER SINGH, SAYING: "In view of the car of a superintendent of police being hijacked yesterday and today's militant attack, a red alert has been issued across Punjab. We have barricaded the roads and are checking vehicles." POLICE PERSONNEL SIGNALLING VEHICLES TO MOVE ASIDE
- Embargoed: 16th January 2016 04:02
- Keywords: death attack air force base border Pakistan India
- Location: PATHANKOT/LUDHIANA, PUNJAB, INDIA
- City: PATHANKOT/LUDHIANA, PUNJAB, INDIA
- Country: India
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Insurgencies
- Reuters ID: LVA0013YCWFUV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL
At least two gunmen and a guard were killed in an attack on an Indian Air Force base on Saturday (January 2) near the border with Pakistan, officials said, in an apparent challenge to attempts to revive a dialogue between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
Indian defense ministry sources said four gunmen, believed to be from Pakistan, had entered the Pathankot airbase in India's northwestern state of Punjab overnight. Two were confirmed killed in the ensuing shootout, along with the guard.
"The operation began after 4:00 am (2230 GMT). Two militants have been killed so far and some people from our side have also been injured. Four to five militants are suspected to be inside and hopefully soon we will be able to successfully neutralize the base," said Ashwani Sharma, a legislator of Pathankot.
The attack came a week after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an impromptu visit to Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, in a bid to revive bilateral talks that had previously been derailed by militant attacks.
Border police chief Vijay Singh said the operation to eliminate the gunmen had lasted three hours. The airbase was being combed to determine the fate of the remaining attackers.
According to news reports, the gunmen wore army uniform. One Indian security source blamed the attack on a Pakistan-based militant group, but said it posed no threat to civilians.
The raid resembled an assault last July by gunmen on a police post in a Punjabi border town that killed nine people. However, Saturday's pre-dawn attack appeared to have been much more audacious by targeting a large military facility.
The whole of Punjab is now on high alert with many road blocks and security checks seen on the streets.
"In view of the car of a superintendent of police being hijacked yesterday and today's militant attack, a red alert has been issued across Punjab. We have barricaded the roads and are checking vehicles," said Surinder Singh, the station house office of Sarabha Nagar.
One Indian home ministry official said Punjab and Jammu states were on high alert and all defense bases had been sealed. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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