Terror strikes Punjab, five killed in early morning attacks

Gurdaspur: Four heavily armed terrorists wearing army uniform today went on a rampage attacking a bus and a police station complex, leaving five persons, including a policeman, dead and several injured in Gurdaspur district bordering Pakistan.

The terrorists struck a moving bus at Dinanagar area at 5 AM, spraying bullets at passengers, injuring four. The assailants then targeted a health centre followed by a building where the families of police personnel reside and hurled grenades before entering the police station.

Army columns have been mobilised as the 'fidayeen' militants were holed up in Dinanagar police station complex.

Special forces too have been deployed and a gunbattle was on several hours after the mayhem started.

According to police, the attackers first targeted a roadside eatery and took off in a Maruti 800 with Punjab registration number. They shot dead a roadside vendor near Dinanagar bypass.

They then opened fire on the bus before targeting a community health centre adjacent to Dinanagar police station, killing three civilians including a woman and a policeman.

The gunmen then entered the Dinanagar police station and opened fire in which five policemen were seriously injured.

The militants also targeted another part of the complex where the families of police personnel reside.

Local resident Kamaljeet Singh Matharu, who said that the assailants had snatched his car after firing at him, said they were dressed in army uniform and were heavily armed.

Matharu received gunshot injuries and is admitted to hospital.

In a related development, five live bombs were found on Amritsar-Pathankot railway track and the train services on the route have been suspended.

The Home Ministry said that an alert has been sounded along the border with Pakistan. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval about the situation.

Singh assured Badal of full central assistance and said, "I have instructed DG BSF to put his troops along border on alert." .