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Pathankot Attack: Combing Operations On To Check For Live, Unexploded Bombs At Air Base

Combing Operations On To Check For Live, Unexploded Bombs At Pathankot Air Base
PATHANKOT, INDIA - JANUARY 5: Commandos stand guard at Air Base during combing operations at Pathankot Air Base on Day 4 of terrorist attack on January 5, 2016 in Pathankot, India. Addressing the media after a visit to the forward base that was under siege from Saturday morning, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said the terrorists were neutralised in an operation that was over in 38 hours but combing operations are still on and may continue for a day or two. (Photo by Sameer Sehgal/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
PATHANKOT, INDIA - JANUARY 5: Commandos stand guard at Air Base during combing operations at Pathankot Air Base on Day 4 of terrorist attack on January 5, 2016 in Pathankot, India. Addressing the media after a visit to the forward base that was under siege from Saturday morning, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said the terrorists were neutralised in an operation that was over in 38 hours but combing operations are still on and may continue for a day or two. (Photo by Sameer Sehgal/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

PATHANKOT -- Combing operations were underway on Wednesday to sanitise the air base here that was under siege for four days after terrorists struck the forward installation even as the focus shifted to the probe in the terror strike with the NIA chief arriving here for an on-the-spot assessment

Security officials said on Wednesday that the combing operations may continue for a day or two at the forward base where seven security personnel and six terrorists were killed

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had said on Tuesday that there "is no suspected terrorist inside right now. (still) I will not give a negative report till the combing operations are over. The combing operations may be over by tomorrow"

He had said that the combing operation was for safety purpose as there are live, unexploded bombs besides rest of the ammunition

"Probably, they have brought high quality explosives," he had said

He had stated that the terrorists were carrying AK47s, modified Under Grenade Barrel Launcher, pistols, Swiss and commando knives, 40-50 kg of bullets besides 3-4 dozens of magazine and mortars

Parrikar had also announced that all those seven security personnel killed during the attack will be treated as martyrs that will entitle them to all the benefits available to "battle casualty" like in war-like situation

With the focus shifting on investigation, anti-terror probe agency NIA's chief Sharad Kumar will arrive here in the afternoon for an on-the-spot assessment

Kumar had said on Tuesday that solving the conspiracy behind the attack was a "very big challenge" but recalled how the agency had in the past established the identity of culprits in many blind cases

"It's a very challenging case and a lot of investigation needs to be done. Therefore, I am not fixing any deadline to the case but we will try to complete the probe soon," Kumar had said.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.