If the Punjab Police are to be believed, as many as 15 terrorists may have possibly entered Punjab from Pakistan in the last week of December.
This was the specific input sent out by the Punjab Police in an official communique days before the terror strike took place at the strategic Pathankot airbase.
If the input by the Punjab intelligence is considered, there could well be more terrorists in hiding or inside the massive Pathankot airbase where gun battle is still underway.The airbase is a huge area with a circumference of 24-km.
The input now creates ambiguity on the number of terrorists and throws light on the need to adopt a pro-active aggressive approach to neutralise all the militants who may have sneaked in from Pakistan. A massive manhunt by the Punjab Police is underway to locate if there are any more terrorists outside the bounds of the airbase.
In fact, following the intelligence alert, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Suresh Arora issued a letter to all concerned including district police chief's to step up vigil. The alert said that in the last week of December, 15 terrorists may have entered Punjab from Pakistan. The alert was issued by Punjab DGP, Intelligence, Anil Kumar.
All security agencies were alerted of the infiltration bid and warned of a strike at defence establishments and other places including Parliament.
The developments that have unfolded leave many questions unanswered.
Was the specific intelligence alert taken lightly? Did the border security force that guards the 553-km stretch of the international border with Pakistan in Punjab do enough after the alert? Why was the Punjab Police unable to nab the terrorists even after the abducted Punjab SP had specifically told them that his abductors were armed terrorists in army fatigues?
Was there enough security outside the Pathankot airbase to stall any bid to storm the airbase? Was there a local connection in India that facilitated the strike?
Why was the SP's vehicle with the blue beacon atop, that had the terrorists inside, not stopped at the check points leading to the airbase.
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