Pathankot attack: Terrorists carried approximately 6 kgs of RDX each, say sources

Unexpected drama occurred outside the Pathankot air force base late on Wednesday evening, as the security forces present detained a “suspicious” man carrying a rucksack wandering too close to the barricaded area. Not much is known about this man, clad in a black jacket, kurta, beige trousers and boots, as the forces made him sit down at the side of the road and then cleared the media from the area.

Reports emerged later that the man was possibly just a drunk and not a suspect.

The base is still full of officials from various agencies -- the army, the air force, the NSG, the NIA, Punjab Police -- as investigations are on even as word came that the combing operations were over. According to sources, the National investigation Agency has identified the point of entry for the infiltrators at the Pathankot air force base.

It seems to be, as locals had also suspected, an area along the perimeter that is bordered by tall trees, that apparently helped the infiltrators climb up and scale the barbed wire lace walls of the base.

This area is said to be just ahead of the Akalgarh village where the car of the supposedly kidnapped SP, Satwinder Singh, was found early in the morning of January 1.

Sources privy to the investigation also said each militant carried approximately 6 kgs of RDX, though all has now been exploded in the combat. The body of these militants were also thoroughly booby trapped with explosives rigged to pockets on their vests which would explode if anyone were to open them. Thus, they said, the team of doctors had to wait long before they could start the post mortem at the base itself, as the NSG was securing these bodies, to make sure there were no more explosives.

It is preferable for the forces if the doctors do most of the investigations on site, though later, according to procedure the bodies have to be handed to the local police. 

Officials part of the investigations, anonymously, admit to there being serious lapses, as it is clear that the infiltrators had proper knowledge of the base, how to enter, and where to go. 

Sources in the local police said that all security forces knew by early January 1 morning that an attack was imminent and that the cops were on alert in the area. They’d put up barricades, and were manning their posts with light machine guns (LMGs).