India tightened security on the border with Pakistan on Monday after heavily armed men stormed a police station at Dinanagar town in Gurdaspur district of Punjab, killing five people and wounding seven.
Armed police were exchanging fire with the gunmen, who were holed up in the police station, officials said. Counter-terrorism teams were on their way to the scene, the government said.
Gunshots could be heard on television as security forces in red turbans surrounded the building in Dinanagar, 20 km from the border.
DID ATTACKERS ENTER FROM J-K?
Police sources said the attackers had entered India from Pakistan a couple of days ago in neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir. Jitendra Singh, a minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office, said he did not rule out Pakistan’s involvement.
“There have been reports of Pakistan infiltration earlier and cross-border mischief in this area,” said Singh, whose constituency borders Gurdaspur.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh said he had spoken to the head of the Border Security Force and “instructed him to step up the vigil” on the border. “The situation is under control,” Singh told reporters.
The group of about five attackers came in a white Maruti-Suzuki car, dressed in army uniforms, said Harcharan Bains, an adviser to Punjab chief minister. The attackers took the vehicle at gunpoint from a ‘dhaba’ (roadside restaurant), another local politician told Reuters.
{{/usCountry}}The group of about five attackers came in a white Maruti-Suzuki car, dressed in army uniforms, said Harcharan Bains, an adviser to Punjab chief minister. The attackers took the vehicle at gunpoint from a ‘dhaba’ (roadside restaurant), another local politician told Reuters.
{{/usCountry}}Television footage showed a white Maruti-Suzuki sedan with its windshield peppered with bullet holes, and broken glass and bullet casings on the passenger seat. What appeared to be improvised explosive devices on railway tracks were also shown.
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