Massive search op in Pathankot

Pathankot, June 22

A day after a parliamentary panel claimed some “terrorists were still hiding” in villages close to the “vulnerable” Pathankot air base, the state police today carried out a massive door-to-door search in at least 28 hamlets near here.

“We conducted a search operation in 28 villages starting at 5 am for five hours. We asked people whether they have seen any person or suspect who is not from their village. They said they have not seen anyone,” Pathankot SSP Rakesh Kaushal said.

Led by the SSP, a total of 300 policemen, including two SP-rank officers, conducted the search operation in villages such as Dhira, Tajpur, Akalgarh and Chonga near the air base.

The search team also comprised highly trained and specially equipped Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) commandoes.

The police also inspected security outside the Pathankot air base and found that everything was safe. “Everything is safe there,” said Kaushal, adding that the air base was also secured by its own Garud commandoes.

Search operations were also carried in areas inhabited by “Gujjars”, officials said. “We found nothing suspicious,” said the SSP. He, however, said security had been intensified in the border district which had witnessed a terror attack at the air base in January.

Notably, early this month, shoot-at-sight orders were issued at the air base in Pathankot and security was stepped up following intelligence inputs.

Meanwhile, a meeting was held between officials of the Army, BSF, Air Force and the Punjab Police to review security arrangements here, the SSP said. — PTI