Gunfight Continues in Indian Air Force Base in Punjab, Death Toll Rises to 12

New Delhi (PNA/Xinhua) — Gunfight inside an Indian Air Force (IAF) base in northern state of Punjab on Sunday entered second day as gunfire and blasts broke out anew, raising the death toll to 12, officials said.

The intermittent fire continued until late night as Indian troops were battling the remaining attackers, reports said.

“Seven people have been martyred which include a guard, five Defense Security Corps (DSC) personnel and one National Security Guard (NSG),” Air Commodore J S Dhamoon, Air Officer Commanding (AOC) at Pathankot told media. “Operation is still going on and will continue until whole airbase is cleared of intruders.”

Indian authorities have rushed in teams of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and National Security Guard besides using helicopters to take on gunmen who entered the base.

Reports said police and Indian border guards have cordoned off area around the Pathankot airbase and roads leading to the base have been sealed.

The Pathankot airbase is about 430 km north of the Indian capital New Delhi and adjacent to Indian-controlled Kashmir.

According to Dhamoon, they have found four bodies of attackers inside the base.

“Four terrorists have been confirmed killed as of yesterday evening and right now operation is going on,” Dhamoon said.

Late night reports pouring in from Pathankot said another attacker has also been killed; however, his body was yet to be recovered.

Authorities suspect further presence of one to two militants inside the base.

Officials said helicopters and other equipment at the air base were safe.

Sunday’s firing has come in contradiction to the Indian army’s claims on Saturday evening that the base was cleared of attackers.

Though the exact number of attackers was unknown, officials said a group of gunmen in military fatigues stormed the base Saturday at 3:30 a.m.(local time).

Officials said a hijacked police car was used by the gunmen in the attack.

Reports said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday evening held a high-level meeting over the Pathankot attack.

The attack came just days after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Lahore to meet Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, to give boost to the renewed peace initiative between the two countries.

The attack has raised speculations over the continuation of thaw in India-Pakistan relations.

On Saturday, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the forces were giving befitting reply to the attackers.

In July of last year, at least 10 people including four policemen and three civilians were killed in an attack on a police station in Gurdaspur district of Punjab. (PNA/Xinhua) JBP/SSC