*Martyrs to be treated as ‘battle casualties’
Sanjeev Pargal
PATHANKOT, Jan 5: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today dropped hints that indicated involvement of Pakistan based terrorists in major attack on Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Pathankot in the wee hours of January 2 in which 13 persons including seven security personnel, one of them Lieutenant Colonel and all six terrorists, who were believed to be Pakistani cadre of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit, were killed.
Addressing a crowded press conference here this afternoon after visiting the houses of martyrs Kulwant Singh and Fateh Singh, who had sacrificed their lives in the terror attack, Parrikar said the security forces had finished off the operation by eliminating all six militants within 36 to 38 hours i.e. by Sunday night and rest of the time was taken for sanitization operations, which were still on and could even last for more days as security forces had to secure nearly 1900 acres land (about 24 kilometers area) on which the air base was spread.
Accompanied by Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag and IAF chief Air Marshal Arup Raha, Parrikar on his arrival here in the morning visited residences of two martyrs of the attack-Kulwant Singh and Fateh Singh and assured their families of all possible help from the Army.
He said the seven fatalities suffered by the troops in the war have been declared as “battle casualties” to ensure the families of the martyrs get full compensation and other benefits. Apart from this, he said, Punjab Government has also announced Rs 20 lakh relief and Government job for kin of the martyrs, hailing from Punjab.
Replying to a question, Parrikar dropped hints that the militants might have come from Pakistan when he said some of the weapons and other material recovered from their possession had markings of Pakistan.
According to sources, some shoes, batteries and rifles found in possession of the militants, were carrying mark of Pakistan.
On the question about route of infiltration taken by the militants, Parrikar said there were some leads. The National Investigating Agencies (NIA), which has been assigned investigations of the case, has also got some clues. The BSF has also given its report. All this will be known during the investigations, he added.
With Parrikar’s announcement on the closure of operations, it has become clear that there were only six militants, who had intruded inside the air base and all of them have been killed.
To a question that operation was going on for 83 hours, the Defence Minister said the operation was over within 36 to 38 hours and all six militants had been killed by Sunday night.
“It was the sanitization operation that was going on after the killing of the militants as there were 3000 families of the security personnel living in the quarters inside the air base, where huge assets of the IAF were also housed. The sanitization operations were still on and could take long time, may be even four days as the air base was spread over 1900 acres of land i.e. about 24 kilometers area,” the Defence Minister said and lauded the role of Army, National Security Guards (NSG), Indian Air Force (IAF), Defence Security Corps (DSC), Intelligence and all other security agencies, who were involved in the operation and bravely faced the situation by eliminating six hardcore terrorists though they lost seven brave soldiers including a Lieutenant Colonel.
“There is no suspected terrorist inside right now. (still) I will not give a negative report till the combing operations are over. The combing operations may be over by tomorrow,” he said or can take some more days but that is not the problem. The issue was killing of the militants and the security forces have finished them off.
He said the combing operation was for safety purpose as there are live, unexploded bombs besides rest of the ammunition. “Probably, the militants had brought high quality explosives with them,” he added.
The Defence Minister said that the terrorists were carrying AK-47 rifles, modified Under Grenade Barrel Launcher, pistols, swiss and commando knives, 40-50 kg of bullets besides 3-4 dozens of magazine and mortars.
Replying to questions on the reported security lapses, he said “I see some gaps. But I do not think there is any compromise on security”.
Once the investigations are over, things will become clear, he said, adding every security detail cannot be discussed and something should be kept for investigation.
Parrikar said that he was worried as to how the terrorists had managed to come inside the base which has a perimeter of 24.7 kms and located in an area of about 2,000 acres.
Parrikar said except the Garud commando, no one else was killed in direct operation. He was killed when the terrorists fired using one of the vehicles at the base as a cover.
“Five Defence Security Corps personnel died because more of a bad luck. One of them Jagdish Chandra virtually grappled with the terrorist before killing him,” he said hailing them as martyrs who made their supreme sacrifices.
Calling the counter-terror operation as “very difficult”, Parrikar said that all assets–strategic and buildings–and the families, were secured. The only building that was damaged is the one in which the terrorists were holed up, he said.
He complimented the joint efforts of Army, Air Force, and the National Security Guards (NSG) and said that they should undertake joint training in future.
Brushing aside criticism over opting for NSG for the main role rather than the Special Forces of the Army, he said “50 per cent of the NSG is made up of the Army only. All assets were provided by the Army and they worked together smoothly”.
The Minister said the initial focus was to secure all the assets at the base where 3,000 families were staying besides the foreign trainees from five to six countries.
Asked about the alleged failure of Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in stopping the infiltration from Pakistan, Parrikar referred to media reports which said that “the BSF has already been asked to give details of areas from where terrorists could have entered”.
He said the NIA is probing the case and it will not be proper for him to divulge details as it was the matter of ongoing investigation.
Parrikar said a security audit of all defence installations is being carried out.
According to the details given by him, the encounter started at 3:30 am on Saturday and the last contact with the terrorists was made at about 7:30 pm on Sunday.
Parrikar said the operations after that were for combing purpose as there were a lot of live bombs and hence there was delay in retrieving the body.
He added that the body of the sixth terrorist was yet to be retrieved as a grenade is “stuck up” to it.
“I have said there is no need to rush,” he said adding that the forces should take its time to avoid any more casualty.
“We cannot take a risk. We have already lost one personnel in a booby trap. We should not lose any more,” the Defence Minister said. Parrikar said a security audit of all defence installations is being carried out.
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