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Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday admitted to 'some gaps' that led to the terror attack on the Air Force base in Pathankot in which all the six infiltrators, who used some 'Pakistan-made' equipment, have been killed.
Addressing a news conference after a visit to the forward base, he said the terrorists were neutralised in an operation that started at 3.30 am on Saturday but combing operations are still on.
"There is no suspected terrorist inside right now. (Still) I will not give a negative report till the combing operations are over. The combing operations may be over by tomorrow," he said.
Parrikar announced that all those seven security personnel killed during the attack will be treated as martyrs that will entitle them to all the benefits available to 'battle casualty' as in war-like situations.
He said the terrorists were carrying 40-50 kg of bullets, mortars, which were fired from modified Under-Barrel Grenade Launcher besides some magazines.
Replying to questions, he said, "I see some gaps. But I do not think there is any compromise on security. Once the investigations are over, things will become clear."
He said that every security detail cannot be discussed and something should be kept for investigation.
Parrikar said that he was worried as to how the terrorists had managed to come inside the base which has a perimeter of 24 km and located in an area of about 2,000 acres.
Asked about the Pakistani connection, he said there are indications that some of these equipment are made in Pakistan.
Parrikar said except the Garud commando, no one else was killed in direct operation.
"Five Defence Securiuty Corps personnel died more because of a bad luck. One of them, Jagdish Chandra, virtually grappled with the terrorist before killing him," he said hailing them as martyrs who made their supreme sacrifice.
Calling the counter-terror operation as 'very difficult', Parrikar said that all assets -- strategic and buildings -- and the families, were secured.
The only building that was damaged is the one in which the terrorists were holed up, he said.
He complimented the joint efforts of the Army, the Air Force, and the National Security Guards and said that they should undertake joint training in future.
Brushing aside criticism over opting for the NSG for the main role rather than the Special Forces of the Army, he said, "50 per cent of the NSG is made up of the Army only. All assets were provided by the Army and they worked together smoothly."
The minister said the initial focus was to secure all the assets at the base where 3,000 families were staying besides the foreign trainees from five to six countries.
Asked about the failure of the Border Security Force personnel in stopping the infiltration from Pakistan, Parrikar referred to media reports which said that ‘the BSF has already been asked to give details of areas from where terrorists could have entered’.
He said the National Investigation Agency is probing the case and it will not be proper for him to divulge details as it was the matter of ongoing investigation.
Parrikar said a security audit of all defence installations is being carried out.
According to the details given by him, the encounter started at 3.30 am on Saturday and the last contact with the terrorists was made at about 7.30 pm on Sunday.
Parrikar said the operations after the attack were for combing purposes as there were a lot of live bombs and hence there was delay in retrieving the body.
He added that the body of the sixth terrorist was yet to be retrieved as agencies apprehend it could be a booby-trap.
"I have said there is no need to rush," he said adding that the forces should take its time to avoid any more casualties.
"We cannot take any risk. We have already lost one personnel in a booby trap. We should not lose any more," the minister said.
Punjab to give Rs 25 lakh, jobs to martyrs' kin
Paying rich tributes to the security personnel who laid down their lives during the Pathankot terror attack, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal announced financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh and government job each for the next of kin of two martyrs from the state -- Honorary Captain Fateh Singh and Havildar Kulwant Singh.
The chief minister said that it was a modest effort of the state government to pay tribute to these bravehearts who made supreme sacrifice while protecting the unity and integrity of the nation.
"The state government will leave no stone unturned to bail these families out of the crisis in this hour of grief," Badal told reporters.
Image: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar with Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Arup Raha and Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag addressing the media regarding the military operations at Pathankot airbase on Tuesday. Photograph: PTI Photo