J&K's counter-infiltration grid helped SWAT neutralise ultras

Well-equipped counter-infiltration grid established in Jammu & Kashmir to deal with the terror strikes came in handy for the jawans of the Punjab police during the 11-hour intense gunfight inside Dinanagar police station of Gurdaspur district on Monday. According to official sources before the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) of Punjab police arrived at the spot from Amritsar, J&K Police had dispatched fleet of bullet proof vehicles and bullet proof jackets to assist them and ensure safety of policemen standing in the line of fire to pin down the heavily armed ‘fidayeen’ group.

Since Punjab police was not well-equipped to effectively deal with the situation help was sought from the J&K police which has a long history of successfully carrying out counter-infiltration operations.The bullet proof vehicles of the State police were also used by the elite commandos of Punjab police during the final assault inside the police station complex. 

Though jawans of the Indian army, NSG commandos were also rushed to the spot to quickly neutralise the Pakistan trained militants, the chain of command remained with the DGP Punjab police Sumedh Singh Saini. He directed his men to lead from the front and neutralise the armed militants.According to official sources, DGP J&K Police K Rajendra swiftly responded to the request of the Punjab police officers supervising the operation and rushed much needed help. 

Jawans of Special Task Force (STF) of State police were also kept on standby but were not called to the spot, official sources claimed.

Meanwhile, following audacious strike by the Pakistan trained militants the security grid along the most vulnerable Jammu-Pathankot National highway was alerted and check-points were activated to carry out thorough searches. Besides, separate check points were also raised in the villages in the close vicinity of the International border in Samba and Kathua districts to monitor the movement of miscreants. 

Ministry of Home Affairs after carrying out detailed review of the security situation also issued necessary instructions to the BSF to heighten the vigil along the border to prevent fresh infiltration bids in the run-up to the Independence day celebrations. Railway security was also beefed up and jawans of Government Railway Police were tasked to carry out thorough searches on board the trains and keep a tight vigil on the railway platforms and railway tracks.