Resolute govt. will root out terrorism from India: Rajnath (Update)

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday that a resolute NDA Government will root out the menace of terrorism from India.

Reading out a statement on the recent Gurdaspur terror attack, which claimed several lives and injured others, Singh said, "Government has been, and will remain, resolute in this regard. I take this opportunity to assure the House that the government is firmly committed to root out terrorism from India. I also assure the House that the government will do everything possible to prevent cross-border terrorism aimed against India."

Offering the government's heartfelt condolences to the families of civilians and security force personnel killed in this terror attack and speedy recovery for the injured, the home minister further said, "I assure the honourable members that any effort by the enemies of our nation, to undermine India's territorial integrity and security, or imperil the safety and security of our citizens, will meet an effective and forceful response from our security forces."

Placing on record his and the government's sincere appreciation for the successful counter-operation conducted by the Punjab Police, Rajnath Singh said that preliminary analyses of GPS data indicated that the 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 track near Village Talwandi between Dinanagar and Jhakoladi, which were subsequently defused by the bomb disposal squad. One night vision device was also recovered from this spot.

He also mentioned that the Punjab Police have recovered a number of incriminating material, including three AK 47 rifles, 19 magazines and two GPS from the three dead terrorists, which are being analyzed for further necessary action.

He informed the House that during the last one month, there were five attempts at cross-border infiltration in the Jammu and Kashmir sector, out of which four were interdicted and eight terrorists neutralized.

In the remaining one instance, the terrorists went back after effective retaliation by Indian forces, he added.