Unidentified remains found at Pathankot debris: Rajnath Singh

Amid contradictory reports over number of terrorists attacking the Pathankot airbase, the government on Friday said that more charred remains were found among the debris after security forces searched the spot when the operation ended.

Amid contradictory reports over number of terrorists attacking the Pathankot airbase, the government on Friday said that more charred remains were found among the debris after security forces searched the spot when the operation ended.

An Indian army soldier takes up position on the perimeter of an airforce base in Pathankot on January 3, 2016.(Sameer Sehgal/ HT Photo)

Four terrorists were killed and identified during the original operation.

“Charred remains were found and sent for forensic examination. We are awaiting for reports,” Union home minister Rajnath Singh said at a press conference.

His statement came amid conflicting reports over the number of terrorists who attacked the air base.

Read: NIA unsure if 4 or 6 terrorists were killed at Pathankot base

While NSG, which carried out the operation against the terrorists, has said there were six terrorists, the NIA, which has been probing the case has maintained that they found the bodies of four terrorists and yet to come conclusive evidence about any more terrorist was involved in the attack.

Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, who was also present at the press meet, said enhanced security will be provided along the Indo-Pak border, which was breached by terrorists from across the border and carried out the recent attack on the Pathankot airbase.

“We need to do more than just fencing. Experience of fencing is at best. But Fencing is not an end to itself,”

He was replying to a question about the security along the Indo-Pak border, particularly in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.

There have been several instances in recent past when terrorists from Pakistan breached the border and carried out terror attacks, including the January 2 strike on Pathankot airbase.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju has recently said in Lok Sabha that a pilot project for installing radars, sensors and cameras has been launched along the border with Pakistan and Bangladesh to check incidents of infiltration.

He said the government has decided to deploy technological solutions in the form of integration of radars, sensors, cameras, communication networks and command and control solutions in various difficult terrains where fencing could not be installed.