Search operation near Pathankot airbase continues for second day

Pathankot: A massive search operation continued in and around the Pathankot airbase for the second day on Wednesday following intelligence inputs about suspected anti-national elements in the area, police said.

Security agencies, including the Punjab Police, Indian Air Force Garuda commandos, Army personnel, Himachal Pradesh Police and para-military forces, had launched the search operation around the airbase on Tuesday.

The IAF also carried out air surveillance over the area to assist the ground troops. The area near the frontier airbase was sealed during the search operation.

Shops and some other establishments near the Pathankot airbase, 250 km from here, remained shut.

Pathankot district police chief Nilambari Vijayjagdale said the search operation was continuing but nothing suspicious had been found so far.

The Pathankot airbase was attacked by suspected Pakistani terrorists on January 2 last year.

The airbase is a frontier facility of the IAF with fighter and transport squardons based here.

Pakistani terrorists had targetted Dinanagar town in neighbouring Gurdaspur district in July 2015.