The government is still unsure about the number of militants who attacked the Pathankot Air Force base in January 2016. Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said on Tuesday that four militants had entered the facility. “Four Pakistan-based terrorists entered Punjab via Janial road, Dhusi turn, near Ravi river bridge, Gulpur Simli village, Akalgarh, and attacked the air force station in Pathankot,” Ahir told the Lok Sabha.
This is contrary to Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s claim that six militants attacked the IAF base on January 2. More than seven soldiers were killed in the attack.
However, a senior ministry official said that the government believes that six militants were involved in the attack. “Forensic reports confirmed the presence of two more attackers. It was on the basis of these reports that home minister Rajnath Singh informed Parliament in March that six attackers were involved. The ministry will make a suo moto correction on Wednesday,” the official told Hindustan Times.
Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi on Wednesday reportedly asked concerned authorities to make the correction in parliamentary records. The National Investigation Agency is almost done with preparing the chargesheet in the case, the newspaper reported.
The agency is framing charges against four militants because there has been no concrete evidence to prove the presence of two more militants during the attack. The theory about the presence of two more militants is based on samples found at site that had human remains. However, their bodies were never recovered from the site.
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