Gurdaspur terror attack: Army meant for 'bigger operations', says CM Badal

Kapurthala (Punjab): Amid criticism over Army not being given the charge of the operation against terrorists in Gurdaspur, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday said Army and Paramilitary forces are meant for “bigger operations” and hailed the state police for its performance. He said Punjab Police has shown that it is fully capable of dealing with such a situation at any point of time. “Army and Paramilitary forces are meant for bigger operations. In case the situation (had) warranted their involvement, then the state government would not have hesitated to hand over the command of counter insurgency operation to the Army,” Badal said in Kapurthala. [caption id=“attachment_2368040” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal. AP[/caption] His comments came amid criticism by experts over the Army not being given the charge to take on the three terrorists who were holed up in Dina Nagar police station on Monday. An Army unit had reached the venue soon after the terrorists struck but it only had a peripheral role while the Punjab Police and its commando unit SWAT carried out the operation. Experts have opined that the Army would have finished the operation much quicker than 12 hours which it took. Badal said the “finer” details of Monday’s operation in Gurdaspur will be examined to see if there is a need for modernisation of the force. “This operation has given an opportunity to reassess the situation and overcome our weaknesses and follies, if any. We will certainly take stock of the entire situation and examine the finer details of operation so as to undertake modernization of the police force, if needed,” he said. “The terror attack might have resulted in a far more grave tragedy having severe implications in terms of mass casualties and heavy destruction. … The impending huge loss has been averted due to the swift action and alertness on the part of our brave force,” the Chief Minister said. He made the comments after meeting the family members of Baljit Singh, the Superintendent of Police who died in the terrorist attack at Dina Nagar police station, and paid his last respects to the martyr by laying wreath on his body. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal also visited the premises of the police station at Dinanagar where the terrorists struck on Monday. The leader asked the opposition to refrain from “politicizing” the attack and said that cheap politics was undesirable and unwarranted, when it comes to national interest. “It is highly deplorable that few political leaders are trying to get political mileage by indulging in politicking over this issue”, he told reporters. He said that it was time when all political parties and their leaders join hands to combat the grave problem of terrorism. He also promised that the state government would make whole hearted efforts to further modernize the police force in the state. “We can wait for some more time for building bridges and roads but funds for modernizing the police force must be released expeditiously,” Badal said. Replying to another query, the Chief Minister said that militancy could not become successful until and unless the people of the region support it. He said that the people of Punjab were totally against terrorism and they oppose it outrightly. “This is the reason why terrorism cannot raise its ugly head again in the state”, he noted. The Chief Minister was apprised about the counter insurgency operation undertaken by the state police by Inspector General Ishwar Chander and Senior Superintendent of Police Gurpreet Singh Toor. Badal visited the houses of martyred cops and civilians in the terror attack and expressed his heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved families. He met the families of Sukhdev Singh in village Attepur, Amarjeet Singh in village Jagatpur, Desraj in village Jungle Bhiwani, Bodhraj in village Shaadipur, Ghulam Rasool in village Shahpur and Nirmala Devi in village Avakhaan. PTI