A group of suspected Pakistani terrorists today struck at an Air Force base here in Punjab, triggering an encounter in which two attackers and an IAF personnel were killed and 6 security men were injured.
The terrorists, believed to be 5 in number, launched the attack in the wee hours with an aim of destroying the air base, a top security official said.
A group of militants attacked Air Force base at 3:30 AM this morning, a Defence spokesman said.
The attackers were met with strong resistance from the security personnel who were already alert to the possibility of an attack, top sources said in Delhi, adding that the terrorists therefore could not enter the air base and managed to reach only to the langer area on the outside.
Two suspected militants were killed in the battle, SSP R K Bakshi said.
Operation was still on to neutralise other attackers.
One IAF personnel was killed and six others injured in the encounter, the security sources said, while giving details of the operation which was overseen by the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
The attackers are believed to be Pakistani terrorists, sources said.
Security establishment was already on alert and anticipating an attack after an SP of Punjab police was abducted by a group of armed men in army uniform on Thursday night.
Yesterday, a series of meetings were held by NSA with army chief and top IB officers in this regard. Subsequently the army was put on alert and NSG commandos were rushed to Pathankot overnight.
Punjab police were also put on high alert with an additional ADG being rushed to Pathankot.
This is one of the most successful counter terror operation as the terrorists were prevented from causing any major casualties, security official said.
Meanwhile, authorities said the helicopters and other equipment in the Air base was safe.
The entire area has been cordoned off, police said.
It is the second big terror attack in Punjab within less than a year as last year three militants stormed a police station in Diana Nagar before being eliminated after 12 hour gun battle.
