The combing operations are still underway at the Pathankot airbase but on Tuesday, the media was allowed to get a glimpse of the site of the terror attack. Since cameras or cell phones were not allowed, there are no pictures of the airbase.
The first point of contact of the terrorists was the MES MTR warehouse. The action started approximately 800 meters from the main gate of the air base. This warehouse is where all the heavy vehicles are parked. This is where a truck was set on fire and the initial engagement happened. The terrorists were holed up at this warehouse for a few hours.
They then managed to travel from the warehouse and towards the mess from behind the airmen hostel where 4 terrorists were engaged with the security forces. It appears that this is the location where the group of 6 terrorists split into two groups of 4 and 2.
At this time, two of the terrorists managed to go beyond this point, travelling parallel toward another airmen accommodation. This was a two-storey building which houses about a dozen small hostel-type flats where the two terrorists were holed up. This building was shelled heavily by the National Security Guards (NSG) to neutralise the two terrorists. The place now looks like a skeletal structure, charred from the sides and the front facade completely destroyed.
The bodies of the two terrorists are charred beyond recognition. It's going to take time to conduct forensics on these two bodies to get more details on their identity.
Meanwhile, 500-600 meters short of this building, was the final battleground - the DSC mess area - where initially three terrorists were killed. The fourth one was shot dead 20 meters from this point. The four bodies have been kept in this compound.
Families of the officers living in the area have been kept in a safe zone in the housing accommodation away from the scene with armed guards posted outside.
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