Gurdaspur attack LIVE UPDATES

Gurdaspur: In an attack in Punjab early on Monday morning, terrorists opened fire at Gurdaspur police station. Three terrorists who attacked the police station have been neutralised. Firing has stopped and the 12 hour-operation is over. The terrorists were dressed in Army uniform. Details of the attackers are not yet clear.

Punjab Police SP (detective) Baljeet Singh was martyred during gun battle. According to reports, the senior police officer died after being shot in the head while fighting terrorists. 3 cops have been martyred so far.

3 civilians, 5 police personnel were killed, the Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed. 

Gurdaspur attack is Punjab’s first major terror incident in eight years and this comes a day after India celebrated Kargil Vijay Diwas.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has condemned the Gurdaspur Attack. “We condemn terror attack in Gurdaspur in strongest terms,” Pak Foreign Minister said.

Timeline of the attack

• Terrorists target a roadside eatery. Take off in a Maruti 800 with Punjab registration number. Shoot dead a roadside vendor near Dinanagar bypass
• Strike a moving bus at Dinanagar area at 5 AM. Spray bullets, injure four.
• Target a health centre, then a building where the families of police personnel reside. Hurl grenades, kill three civilians including a woman and a policeman.
• The gunmen then enter the Dinanagar police station. Open fire, seriously injure five policemen.
• Terrorists dressed in army uniform and heavily armed.
• Army columns have been mobilised as the ‘fidayeen’ militants, holed up in Dinanagar police station complex.

-MHA calls meeting-

The Ministry of Home Affairs has called a meeting to discuss the terror attack at 6 pm on Monday.

The meeting is to be attended by the Defence Ministry, National Security Agency (NSA) and officials from other security agencies.

-Rajnath Singh to make statement on Tuesday- 

I will give statement in Parliament tomorrow on Gurdaspur terror incident,” Home Minister Rajnath Singh told reporters.  Singh said any peace with Pakistan cannot compromise on national honour. “We want peace with Pakistan, but not at the cost of national honour,” Rajnath told reporters in New Delhi.

“I can’t understand why time and again cross border terror incidents are taking place when we want good relations with our neighbour,” Rajnath added. In a clear message to Pakistan, he then warned, “We will not be the first to strike, but if we are hit, we will give a befitting reply.”

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, “On issues of terrorism the entire nation should speak in one voice.” “There should be no politics for a case like this… especially by a senior party like the Congress,” Naidu added.

-Woman terrorist among other attackers-

A security personnel, who sustained serious injuries in the Gurdaspur terror attack, has said that there is also a woman terrorist among the attackers.

“They (militants) fire after every five minutes. There is also a woman attacker,” he said.

-Blamegame-

Asserting that militancy is a national problem, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said the border should have been sealed if there was an input about an impending terror attack.

“The terrorists didn’t come from Punjab, they come from border. If there was an input then it was their (MHA) job to seal the border. If there was input why wasn’t the border sealed?” Badal said.

“It is very sad and such an incident has occurred here after so many years. But militancy is a national problem; it is not a state problem. It was always a national problem. That is why it needs to be tackled with a national policy,” he added.

The Chief Minister, who has been unwell with high fever, further stated that he had been in touch with security forces since the attack occurred.

“The officers are fighting very bravely. I was unwell but I was in touch with them every 10-15 minutes,” said Badal.

Congress leader Rajeev Shukla held the Centre and Punjab Government responsible for the terror attack and said that the ruling BJP has failed to cope up with the present situation.

Shukla said that all the promises made by the BJP during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls are turning out to be untrue.

“It’s of grave concern because after so long terrorism is seen in Punjab which is very worrying for all of us and I think all those promises made by BJP before coming to power are turning out to be completely untrue. They are not able to cope up with the situation there,” Shukla said.

“And in Kashmir there is already terrorism and if something goes wrong in Punjab it will be a major problem for the country. So, I think the Government of India and Punjab Government both are responsible for this,” he added.

-Shiv Sena burns Pak flag-

Several activists of the Shiv Sena burnt the Pakistani flag here to protest “Pak-sponsored” terror attack at Dina Nagar area of Gurdaspur district.

The protest, led by the party’s state Vice President Inderjit Karwal, prompted authorities to divert the route of one of the buses plying between India and Pakistan under the banner of “Sada-e-Sarhad”.

Raising slogans against Pakistan and terrorists, they set ablaze the Pakistani flag there and staged demonstrations, leading to a slight disruption in traffic.

While addressing the protesters, Karwal demanded “snapping of all ties” with Pakistan and “discontinuation of international buses and trains” plying between the two nations to protest that country’s “continued sinister attempts to destabilise India through cross-border terrorism.” 

-Situation under control in Gurdaspur-

Earlier, Rajnath Singh expressed confidence about the ongoing operation against the terrorists in Gurdaspur district of Punjab and said that the situation is under control.

“I am confident about the operation which is underway and the situation is under control,” the home minister told reporters at the airport here before heading for Neemuch to attend the CRPF Raising Day Function.

Singh said he had spoken to Punjab CM Badal, the National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Director General of BSF and Union Home Secretary L C Goyal.

The home minister, however, refused to give details of casualties.

“I have also instructed BSF to enhance vigil along the entire international border,” he said, before leaving for Neemuch with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

When asked by a reporter whether the attack could be a reaction to the capital punishment awarded to Yakub Memon in 1993 Mumbai blasts case or it was a case of cross-border terrorism, Singh refused to comment. “The operation is going on and I won’t say anything more than this at present,” he said.

-No hostage situation-

Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju had earlier said that no hostage situation in the Gurdaspur attack has been reported so far.

“The attack is serious. I can’t give any details as the operation is still going on. No hostage situation has been reported so far,” he said.

 IG Border Zone, Ishwar Chander said there was no hostage situation in the Gurdaspur terror attacks.

“Four-five people attacked police station in the morning, we have engaged them in an encounter. We are on the job, there is nohostage situation, it is a Punjab police commando op,” said Sharma.

-Nation on high alert-

Following the terror attack in Punjab’s border district of Gurdaspur, Rajasthan’s DGP Manoj Bhatt said that they have increased the vigilance on inter-state border and issued alert to all the districts.

“Intelligence Branch and ATS Branch have issued alert to all our districts and range IGs. We have increased our vigil on the border. The teams have been made alert and they are in place. We get regular inputs, so we keep sharing information with the concerned agencies and our field formations,” Bhatt said.

Security has been enhanced across Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of the terror attack.

A high alert has been sounded in the national capital by the Delhi police with security being beefed up at busy public places and markets.

“We have briefed our officers and men to be vigilant and watchful in the wake of Punjab incident and an alert is being maintained,” PRO of Delhi Police Rajan Bhagat said. 

Security was specially stepped up at railway stations in the national capital and deployment of policemen has been strengthened further. The number of policemen have also been increased at busy public places including crowded markets and shopping malls. 

Intelligence agencies have issued high alert in four prominent cities of Maharashtra. 

“Intelligence agencies have sounded a high alert for Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad and Nagpur cities. Intelligence agencies have told us that there should be high security for a few days in places like malls, railway stations and cinema halls as there could be a possible terror attack in one of these cities in the coming days,” minister of state for home Ram Shinde said.

In Nagpur, police have already increased security ahead of the scheduled hanging of Yakub Memon, the convict of 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, on July 30. 

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that a security alert has been sounded in the state. 

“Yes, they have been given the alert. The threat is there. All the forces, ant-national forces, whether ISI group or NDF. Threat is there. So, definitely all the anti-national forces, they have joined hands together to disturb like this. But we are fully alert. I am confident we’ll be able to change it,” Gogoi told reporters.

“We have already sounded red alert and we are very confident that we will be able to contain it, despite the fact that they will be trying their level best. Besides, there are some communal forces also, trying to create all sorts of disturbance and divide their society on the basis of religion,” he added.

-Govt, security forces will give befitting reply to terrorists-

Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Monday said that the government and security forces will give a befitting reply to the terrorists.

The police and security forces are carrying out the operations there with force… The Home Ministry is monitoring the situation. The Punjab Government is monitoring the situation. The government, security forces and the police will give a befitting reply to those terrorists who have come with wrong intentions,” Naqvi told reporters.

-Punjab terror attack ‘eerily similar’ to Jammu attacks-

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said the timing, methodology and location of the Gurdaspur attack is ‘eerily similar’ to the attacks in the border belt of Jammu. 

“Will be very interested to see what emerges about the identity of the terrorists involved in the Gurdaspur attack this morning,” Abdullah tweeted. 

“The timing of the attack, methodology and location are all eerily similar to attacks in the border belt of Jammu,” he added. 

–Congress questions PM Modi’s silence on assurances given by Pak in Ufa–

Congress questioned Prime Minister Modi’s silence on the assurances given by his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif during their meeting in Ufa, Russia

“It definitely raises many questions about the intention of Pakistan….The people of this country strongly condemn this attack and the loss of lives in the ongoing militant attack,” Congress leader Anand Sharma told mediapersons here.

“The Government of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been silent as to what was the understanding and assurances given by Pakistan when he met with Nawaz Sharif in Ufa and the joint statement that was issued. It is high time that the Prime Minister takes the country into confidence,” he added.

Sharma further said that the recent incident in Jammu and Kashmir, such as raising of Pakistani and ISIS flags, will not be tolerated.

“The recent incidents in the Kashmir valley, the provocations and raising of Pakistan flags, and also the flags of IS, cannot be tolerated…Both the BJP and the PDP are together in government in Jammu and Kashmir, and since these incidents have occurred there has not been and statement or action which can be reassuring to the people of India,” he said.

-Condemnation-

Congress Party’s official Twitter handle tweeted that Congress President Sonia Gandhi has unequivocally condemned the terror attack in Gurdaspur. Gandhi said Congress resolutely stood against such forces & combated it.

Condemning the attack, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “Strongly condemn the terror attack in Gurdaspur.I hope the situation is brought under control at the earliest. My prayers are with the families of those of who lost their lives in the attack.” 

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal hoped that the culprits would be nabbed soon. He tweeted, “We strongly condemn cowardly attack on innocent ppl in Punjab. We are with the people of Punjab and hope that culprits wud soon be nabbed.”

“Saddened to hear about killings in Gurdaspur. We must unitedly pledge to fight terror. Condolences to families of brave men who lost lives,” said West BEngal CM Mamata Banerjee.

“Shocked over the #Gurdaspur terror attack. My thoughts & prayers are with families of civilians & cops who lost lives,” N Chandrababu Naidu said.

“Shocked and saddened by the attacks in Gurdaspur, my deepest condolences to the families of those slain,” Kirron Kher tweeted.

“Strongly condemn the cowardly attack in#Gurdaspur. Terror has no place in a civilized society, it is a weapon of the weak,” said Anurag Thakur.

“Horrified by & condemn the attack by terrorists on innocents in Dinanagar, Gurdaspur. Confident @PMOIndia & govt taking best possible steps,” tweeted Film actor and 4 time MP from Gurdaspur Vinod Khanna. 

The attack in Gurdaspur resonated in Lok Sabha with members cutting across party lines condeming it and saying that the incident demonstrated that the terror threat toIndia is “perceptible” and that all force should be used to fight the scourge. 

Members of Akali Dal, BJP, CPI(M) and BJD spoke on this morning’s attack during the Zero Hour amidst the din created by members of Congress, NCP, Left, TrinamoolCongress, Samajwadi Party, RJD, JD(U) and TRS over various issues. 

BJD member Tathagat Sathpathy said the incident in Gurdaspur was a “grave matter”, which shows that “once again terrorism is back with full force. It is not only display of ISIS flags, the threat of terrorism is perceptible here. The threat is right here in the country.” 

He said all political parties should unite against the fight against terrorism. 

“We are not here to politicise…Strictest action should be taken. All force should be used. India should stand up to fight terrorism,” the BJD member from Odisha said.

 

-Bollywood reacts to Gurdaspur fallout-

National award winner Priyanka Chopra took to twitter to express her grief over the terror attack. She tweeted,”Shocked to hear about the #GurdaspurAttack .My heart goes out to the families of the victims. A Prayer. This has to stop!”. 

Actor Gul Panag, who is an activist and hails from Punjab hoped that the terrorists are neutralised as soon as possible. She tweeted, “#GurdaspurAttack Let’s hope our security forces are able to get all the terrorists quickly and without any more own casualties.”

“There will be enough time to analyse & dissect the motives, the modus operandi etc of the terrorists later. Now is not the time to do it,” she said in another tweet. 

Actor Sunny Leone who has her roots from Punjab tweeted, “Prayers to the family Of the brave cop Baljit Singh who died in#Gurdaspur today.#GurdaspurAttack”.

In a related incident, five live bombs have also been found on a railway track between Dinanagar and Pathankot.

Rail traffic between Amritsar and Pathankot has been stopped. The Pathankot highway has been closed. Search operations are on for any more live ammunition that might have been planted.

Monday’s attack comes weeks after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif spoke for about an hour during a summit in Russia, raising hopes of an improvement in perennially difficult relations.

(With inputs from agencies)