Gurdaspur attack: Terrorists came from Pakistan, says Rajnath

Condemning the Gurdaspur terror attack, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said the preliminary analyses of GPS data indicate that the terrorists had infiltrated from Pakistan through the area near Tash.

"The preliminary analyses of GPS data indicate that terrorists had infiltrated from Pakistan through the area near Tash in Gurdaspur district where the Ravi River enters Pakistan. It is also suspected that the same terrorists planted five IEDs on the railway tracks near village Talwandi between Dinnanaagr and Jhakoladi which was subsequently defused by the bomb disposal squad," Rajnath said in the Rajya Sabha.

He said that one night vision device was also recovered from this spot.

"The Ministry of Home Affairs monitored the situation closely and was in constant touch with the Punjab Government. The Army and NSG were placed on standby to support the Punjab Police operations. I personally spoke to the Chief Minister of Punjab and assured him of all the assistance from the Central Government," he added.

Rajnath further said that the BSF and Indian Army personnel were also put on high alert along the border.

"In this terror attack, a total number of three civilians, three home guards and one police officer lost their lives. In addition, 10 civilians and seven security force personnel were injured," he added.

The Rajya Sabha witnessed noisy scenes by the opposition even as the Union Home Minister was making a statement forcing Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien to adjourn the proceedings till Friday.