Gurdaspur attack: Did sleeper cells, drug dealers help attackers?
The intelligence agencies are also investigating whether the terrorists had any links with the sleeper cells located on both sides of the Indo-Pak border and drug smugglers.
Even though the whole country is lauding the Punjab Police for its courage and bravery shown in the Gurdaspur terror attack on Monday, but the manner in which the terrorists entered the state has put a question mark on the working of the police and intelligence agencies.
The recovery of Global Positioning System (GPS) from the terrorists killed in Dinanagar has however confirmed that they had come from Pakistan. The intelligence agencies are also investigating whether the terrorists had any links with the sleeper cells located on both sides of the Indo-Pak border and drug smugglers.
Former Punjab governor, Lieutenant General BKN Chhibber (retd) claims that the role of sleeper cells and smugglers in guiding the militants cannot be ignored.
"They (terrorists) crossed the border which is guarded by us and their rangers. They may have been aided to get through the border in some way or the other. Somebody must have guided them . And it could be the sleeper cells or the smugglers. The area from where the terrorists are believed to have sneaked into India is known for such people with criminal record in the past. Some of them may have helped them in a bid to earn some quick bucks," Chhibber told Mail Today.
Chibber said that the terrorists not only knew the exact location of the police station and bus stand but also had adequate knowledge about a railway bridge where they had planted five bombs, which is not possible without the help of locals.
"There is a possibility that the terror groups have established sleeper cells on both sides of the border. Though one cannot totally confirm it, yet the manner in which the attacks have been carried out clearly points out that such cells exist," Chibber said.
Meanwhile, the cops on Tuesday removed the bodies of unidentified terrorists from the first floor of the police station building where the terrorists were holed up during the gunbattle.
Inspection of weapons seized from the spot besides other belongings also revealed that their brand names and serial numbers were erased to conceal the identity. Punjab police chief Sumedh Singh Saini on Monday had claimed that the terrorists were carrying AK-47 assault rifles and Chinese made grenades.