Pathankot terror attack: Investigation raises doubts over number of terrorists

Delhi: Doubts have been raised about the number of terrorists who were involved in last month’s terror attack at Pathankot airforce base.

As per a report in Hindustan Times, the National Security Guard (NSG) had said that it had killed six militants. They had led the counter-terror operation after the terror attack.

The Daily quoted a senior home ministry official requesting anonymity as saying, "After neutralising four terrorists, the second ‘encounter’ with ‘two more terrorists’ took place on the ground floor of a two-storey building at the airbase. Since the building was demolished, we could find only ashes which may have pieces of flesh from the bodies of the dead terrorists. The ashes have been sent for forensic analysis to look for human DNA.” 

“But the question is why not even a single shred of cloth worn by the terrorists was found in the ashes? When the bodies of terrorists would have fallen, at least the pieces of clothes on the underside should have survived. During the mopping up operation, shreds of heavy bedclothes were found, but there were no fragments of garments like the military dresses that the other four terrorists were wearing,” he was further quoted as saying by the Daily.

More light can be thrown on the matter once results of the forensic analysis are out.

The report also said that National Investigation Agency (NIA), probing the case may re-evaluate the evidence gathered.

“NIA chief Sharad Kumar may visit the Pathankot airbase next week again to have fresh look at the evidence gathered in the case by his investigators,” the official added.

Seven security personnel were killed and several others were injured when militants, suspected to owe allegiance to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad, stormed the Pathankot air base.