Harchanran Singh Bains, a Punjab state government spokesman, said two of the dead were militants.
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Intelligence agencies on Monday sounded high alert across global border with Pakistan in Jammu region, as encounter between militants and security forces continues in Punjab’s Gurdaspur area. “You can’t support a movement that doesn’t exist on the ground (in India)”.
In a horror attack in the Punjab’s city of Gurdaspur early today morning shooters initially lashed out at a state roadways bus and then made entry into a nearby police station and started firing that hurt about 10 individuals.
The terrorists, numbering about four, are holed up in Dinanagr police station which they stormed into. Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal have condemned the attack and said that law and order will be maintained at all costs. “There were a couple of men opening shops next to him. One of them is dead”, Mr. Sarna said. “Our senior officers are now in the Gurdaspur Sector”, BSF IG, Punjab Frontier, Anil Paliwal said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is meeting Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
No group has taken responsibility of the attack so far.
Pakistan, which has fought three wars with India since both nations gained independence in 1947, has denied any involvement in insurgencies in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.
But less than a week later, each country blamed the other for starting a flare-up between the estranged neighbors.
The terrorists are believed to have come from Narowal, Pakistan.
Among the injured was Dinanagar SHO Mukhtiar Singh, SSP Gurdaspur Gurpreet Singh said. What appeared to be improvised explosive devices on railway tracks, were also shown.
Schools and colleges in the area have been closed until the situation in Gurdaspur is resolved.
Neighbouring Punjab, a majority-Sikh state, has largely been spared the violence that has plagued Indian Kashmir.
According to the TV reports the militants first attacked a shopkeeper, stole a Maruti auto and went to Dinanagar.
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“They may be pushing into Punjab because they can’t find easy targets in Jammu and Kashmir”, Mr. Sahni said.
