Operations on at Pathankot air base

Search operation was also being conducting in nearby villages to ensure that no more terrorists were hiding anywhere. Director General (Air Operations) of the IAF Air Marshal, Anil Khosla, who was also present at a press briefing, said the main aim of the terrorists was defeated as they could not reach the technical area of the Pathnkot air base where high valued assets were kept. At least 20 soldiers were also injured, some of them critically. However, on Sunday noon, fresh firing was heard.

Explosions and firing continued intermittently on Sunday night as security forces killed one of the at least two terrorists holed up at Pathankot air base on the second day of the attack in which military casualties including a Lieutenant Colonel of the NSG mounted to seven.

In the heavy exchange of fire yesterday, a commando and two other personnel of the IAF were killed along with four attackers.

“One DSC jawan ran after them, jostled with one of the terrorists who were running”.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said a NSG commander has been killed while fighting terrorists at Indian Air Force base in Punjab’s Pathankot area.

A Garud commando and two Defence Security Corps (DSC) personnel succumbed to their injuries in the hospital last night.

“The terrorists were cordoned off in one area and the operation continued throughout the night (Saturday) and in the morning (Sunday)”, he said.

A Punjab Police official said the operation will end only after a thorough search and combing operation is completed.

The IAF officer said the operation was “slowed down” yesterday after the killing of four terrorists as security forces were not sure whether there were more terrorists still at large.

The Punjab Police and the BSF have cordoned off the entire space round airbase.

The attack on the base follows an impromptu visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Pakistan on December 25 to visit Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the first such visit in nearly 12 years. A trained NSG commando, Niranjan headed the team of NSG officials that swooped down on Bengaluru immediately following the Church Street bomb blast in December 2014. The last rites will be performed at Kalarikkal Tharavadu, Niranjan’s family home in Elambilassery in Palakkad district. He is survived by his wife and a two-year-old child.