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{{Short description|2015 terrorist attack of a police station in Gurdaspur district, Punjab, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = 2015 Gurdaspur attack
| partof =
| image_skyline =
| image_caption =
| map = {{location map|India Punjab}}
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| alt =
| caption =
| location = [[Dina Nagar]], [[Gurdaspur district]], [[Punjab, India]]
| target = Punjab police, civilians and Indian Railways
| coordinates = {{coord|32.128255|75.469683|display=inline,title}}
| date = 27 July 2015
| time = 5:30 am
| timezone = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| type = [[Mass shooting]]
| fatalities = 10 (including 4 policemen, 3 [[terrorist]]s and 3 civilians)<ref name =Tribune_live/>
| injuries = 15<ref name =Tribune_live/><ref name=Hindu_live/>
| victims = 
| perpetrators = [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]]
| susperps =
| weapons = [[AK-47]]s, [[Night Vision Device]], [[Grenade]]s, [[GPS navigation device|GPS]] devices<ref name="Weapons"/><ref name="gadgets"/>
| numparts = 
| dfens = * [[Punjab Police (India)|Punjab Police]]
** [[Punjab Police SWAT Team|Punjab SWAT]]
* [[Jammu & Kashmir Police|J&K Police SWAT Team]]
* [[Indian Army]] (On Standby)
* [[National Security Guard]] (On Standby)<ref>{{cite news|title=Army on standby as Punjab Police tackle terrorists|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Army-on-standby-as-Punjab-Police-tackle-terrorists/articleshow/48244760.cms}}</ref>
| motive =
}}
{{Terrorist attacks in India (since 2001)}}
On 27 July 2015, three [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]] militants dressed in army uniforms opened fire on a bus and then attacked the [[Dina Nagar]] police station in [[Gurdaspur district]] of [[Punjab, India]]. The attack resulted in the death of three civilians and four policemen, including a [[Superintendent of police (India)|superintendent of police]]; fifteen others were injured. In addition, five bombs were found planted on the [[Amritsar–Pathankot line]] on a rail-bridge near [[Parmanand railway station]], five kilometers from the site of the attack. All three attackers were killed in the operation, which lasted almost 12 hours.<ref name =Tribune_live>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/terror-attack-in-gurdaspur-9-dead-4-injured/111963.html|title=Terror attack in Gurdaspur; SP among seven killed|author=Tribune News Service|work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]]|access-date=27 July 2015|date=27 July 2015}}</ref><ref name=Hindu_live>{{cite news|title=Gurdaspur Attack: Encounter ends; 3 civilians, 4 policemen dead|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/gunmen-attack-punjabs-gurdaspur/article7469246.ece|access-date=27 July 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=27 July 2015}}</ref>

Such terrorist attacks were rare in Punjab after the [[Insurgency in Punjab|Insurgency]], which sought to form an independent [[Sikh]] nation of [[Khalistan]], ended in the 1990s. However, such attacks are common in the Disputed Territory of [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] that borders Gurdaspur, where [[Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir|Islamist insurgents]] are seeking independence or accession to [[Pakistan]] and from where the gunmen were at first suspected to have entered.<ref name=Fitrak_News>{{cite news|title=Pakistan condemns Gurdaspur Attack in India|url=http://fitraknews.com/2015/07/27/pakistan-condemns-terrorist-attack-in-indian-punjab/|access-date=27 July 2015|work=Fitrak News|date=27 July 2015}}{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="NYT 27 July 2015">{{cite news|last1=Barry|first1=Ellen|author-link1=Ellen Barry (journalist)|title=Gunmen in India Kill at Least 5 in Attack on Bus and Police Station|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/28/world/asia/gunmen-in-punjab-india-attack-bus-and-police-station.html|access-date=27 July 2015|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=27 July 2015}}</ref> On the basis of the GPS system found in the terrorists' possession, India claimed the insurgents infiltrated through [[India–Pakistan border|the border with Pakistan]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/gurdaspur-terror-attack-gps-reveals-terrorists-crossed-border-5-km-from-site-of-attack/|title = Gurdaspur attack: GPS reveals terrorists crossed border 5 km from site of attack|date = 29 July 2015}}</ref>

==Attack==

The attack took place in Dina Nagar, Gurdaspur district of Punjab, on the morning of 27 July 2015. At around 5:30 am, they opened fire on a [[Punjab Roadways]] bus coming from Bamial, a Small town in Pathankot District.<ref name=daily>{{cite news|title=Gurdaspur attack: How Punjab Police bravely battled terror|url=http://www.dailyo.in/politics/gurdaspur-terror-attack-punjab-police-force-ss-saini-pakistan/story/1/5272.html|access-date=1 August 2015|agency=Daily O}}</ref> The bus had 75 passengers, several of whom were injured.<ref name=daily/><ref>{{cite news|title=Suspected terrorists attack bus, police station in Punjab's Gurdaspur|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/suspected-terrorists-attack-bus-police-station-in-punjabs-gurdaspur/articleshow/48231194.cms|access-date=27 July 2015|agency=India Times}}</ref> The bus driver, Nanak Chand, drove the bus towards them, forcing them to move back. He then swerved the bus and drove it straight to a government hospital, where the injured passengers were treated.<ref name="ToI_bus_2015">{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Punjab-terror-attack-Bus-driver-saved-many-lives/articleshow/48239382.cms |title=Punjab terror attack: Bus driver saved many lives |newspaper=The Times of India |date=27 July 2015 }}</ref>

After firing indiscriminately near the bus stand, the assailants targeted a roadside eatery and took off in a [[Carjacking|hijack]]ed [[Maruti 800]] car with Punjab registration number. They shot dead a roadside vendor near Dinanagar bypass.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tidingstoday.com/live-punjab-terror-attack-gurdaspur-0104/|title=Punjab Terror Attack (Gurdaspur ) – Terrorists Stormed Police Station and Bus|work=Tidings Today|access-date=27 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150729233919/http://www.tidingstoday.com/live-punjab-terror-attack-gurdaspur-0104/|archive-date=29 July 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> They shot the driver and sped towards the Dina Nagar police station.<ref name=daily/> The attackers targeted a community health centre adjacent to the police station, killing three civilians including a woman and a policeman. The gunmen then entered the police station and opened fire, seriously injuring five policemen.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/48231194.cms|title=Gurdaspur terror attack: One terrorist killed, another injured; Punjab SP (Detective) martyred|work=The Economic Times|access-date=27 July 2015}}</ref>

The first response was led by Punjab Police [[Superintendent of police (India)|Superintendent of Police]] Baljeet Singh, which led to the death of one of the gunmen.<ref name=daily/> SP Baljeet Singh later died in the gunbattle.<ref name=daily/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Martyred-SP-Baljit-Singhs-father-too-died-in-a-terror-attack/articleshow/48239874.cms |title=Martyred SP Baljit Singh's father too died in a terror attack |work=The Times of India |access-date=27 July 2015}}</ref> The [[Indian Army]] and the [[National Security Guards|NSG]] also responded to the attack, but the [[Punjab Police (India)|Punjab Police]] maintained the lead on the counter-terrorism operation and assigned support roles to the Army and the NSG.<ref name=daily/> A 28-man group from the [[Punjab Police SWAT Team]] coordinated a counter-assault and the last militant was killed 11 hours after the terrorist attack began.<ref name="tribunenewsservice">{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/baptism-by-fire-for-punjab-s-elite-swat/112272.html|title=Baptism by fire for Punjab's elite SWAT|author=Tribune News Service|access-date=2 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="hindustantimes.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/gurdaspur-attack-punjab-police-swat-team-bang-on-target/article1-1374194.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150731093102/http://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/gurdaspur-attack-punjab-police-swat-team-bang-on-target/article1-1374194.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 July 2015|title=Gurdaspur attack: Punjab Police SWAT team bang on target|access-date=2 August 2015}}</ref> News agencies have pointed out that security forces could have ended the attack much earlier, as the gunmen were holed up in an abandoned building, but the operation was prolonged order to capture at least one gunman alive, with the assumption that they had a limited amount of food and ammunition, which could lead to an arrest.<ref name="firstpost"/> Once it was clear that none of the gunmen intended on being captured, this goal was abandoned and the [[Punjab Police SWAT Team|SWAT]] Team swiftly neutralized all threats.<ref name="tribunenewsservice"/><ref name="hindustantimes.com"/><ref name="dailyo.in">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyo.in/politics/gurdaspur-terror-attack-punjab-police-force-ss-saini-pakistan/story/1/5272.html|title=Gurdaspur attack: How Punjab Police bravely battled terror|access-date=2 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/gurdaspur-dinanagar-terror-attack-punjab-dgp-terrorists-alive-284905-2015-07-27|title=Gurdaspur attacks: Punjab DGP wants to get terrorists alive|newspaper=India Today|date=27 July 2015|access-date=2 August 2015}}</ref>

This was the first counter-terrorism operation conducted by the [[Punjab Police SWAT Team]] and its success has been widely praised.<ref name="tribunenewsservice"/><ref name="dailyo.in"/>

According to police, the terrorists were [[Muslim]]s<ref>{{cite news|title=Gunmen who carried out Punjab attack were Muslim - police|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/punjab-gurdaspur-attackers-sikhs-muslims-idINKCN0Q221920150728|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307055012/http://in.reuters.com/article/punjab-gurdaspur-attackers-sikhs-muslims-idINKCN0Q221920150728|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Terrorists in Gurdaspur Attack Were Muslim: Police|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/terrorists-in-gurdaspur-attack-were-muslim-police-1201539}}</ref> contradicting the initial reports that the attack was carried out by [[Khalistan movement|Sikh separatists]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Terrorists in Gurdaspur Attack Were Muslim: Police|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/terrorists-in-gurdaspur-attack-were-muslim-police-1201539|access-date = 2015-08-01}}</ref>

== Bombs on the railway track ==

Meanwhile, a railway trackman named Ashwani Saini, while patrolling along the railway track between Dina Nagar and Jhakholari railway stations, spotted five bombs wired to a small bridge on the [[Amritsar]]-[[Pathankot]] line,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/community/courageous-railway-trackman-saves-270-lives/112285.html|title=Courageous railway trackman saves 270 lives|author=Tribune News Service|access-date=2 August 2015}}</ref> just before a passenger train was due to cross the bridge. The train stopped 200 metres from the bombs. The railway authorities suspended all the rail traffic on the section while the bomb-disposal squads defused the bombs.<ref name="ToI_bus_2015"/>

==Equipment==

According to sources at the Ministry of Home Affairs, two [[GPS navigation device|GPS]] devices, three [[AK-47]]s, ten [[Magazine (firearms)|magazine]]s, and two China-made [[grenade]]s were recovered from the terrorists.<ref name="Weapons">{{Cite web|title = Terrorist attack in Punjab, Terror attack in Punjab, Terror attack in Punjab Gurdaspur district|url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Terror-attack-in-Punjab/liveblog/48231051.cms|website = The Times of India| date=27 July 2015 |access-date = 2015-07-27}}</ref>

The attackers had also shaved all body hair and erased all factory markings on their weapons, supposedly to prevent any identification.<ref name=firstpost>[http://www.firstpost.com/india/day-gurdaspur-attack-gunmen-crossed-pakistan-shaved-off-body-hair-2366854.html Clues a day after Gurdaspur attack: GPS that shows gunmen crossed from Pakistan, shaved off all body hair] (28 July 2015) ''Firstpost''</ref>

Indian authorities also recovered a [[Night Vision Device]] from the terrorists, with US Government markings on it. US Authorities confirmed that it belonged to the American Government and was most likely stolen or misplaced in [[Islamic Republic of Afghanistan|Afghanistan]].<ref name="gadgets">Sehgal, Manjeet (11August 2015) [https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/gurdaspur-terror-attack-us-confirms-it-owns-night-vision-device-287547-2015-08-10 Gurdaspur attack: US says its night-vision device stolen from Afghanistan ''India Today'']</ref>

However, Indian investigators claimed to have found evidence of Pakistan's involvement in the attack.

The three terrorists who stormed a police station on the fateful day used gloves with "Made in Pakistan" tags said the panel of doctors in their autopsy report from Gurdaspur civil hospital.

The report said, "external appearance" that a "Made in Pakistan" label was found intact in the glove that one terrorist was wearing.

"After the operation was over on Monday, we had done a random search of the clothes the ultras were wearing. But no label was found in the clothes, including the undergarments," a police was quoted as saying to [[Hindustan Times]].<ref>{{Citation|url=https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540891.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-58509|title=Waite, Herbert William|quote= (30 June 1887–23 July 1967), Principal, Punjab (Pakistan) Police Training School, Sargodha, 1949–54|date=2007-12-01|doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u58509|work=Who Was Who|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-954089-1|access-date=2020-04-17|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

== Aftermath ==
The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs stated that the attacks were carried out by [[Pakistan]] based militant group [[Lashkar-e-Tayiba]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oneindia.com/new-delhi/gunmen-attack-police-station-in-gurdaspur-one-dead-several-injured-1818478.html|title=Updates: 'Gurdaspur operation planned well in advance', says Punjab Police - Oneindia|work=www.oneindia.com|date=27 July 2015|access-date=29 July 2015}}</ref>

During early inspection of data from global positioning sets carried by terrorists who carried out Monday's attack in Gurdaspur suggests that the group launched its operation from across the border in Pakistan's Shakargarh area, Indian government sources have told The Indian Express. Sources familiar with the investigation said the terror team is thought to have left a safehouse on the fringes of Gharot, a village not far from the Pakistani town of Shakargarh, late Sunday night. Travelling due east, the group then crossed a tributary of the [[Ravi river]], and headed to the village of Bamial on the Indian side of the border. From Bamial, investigators believe, the group caught an early morning bus that took them to the highway 1A, which links Punjab with Jammu and Kashmir and on to Hiranagar, passing several police checkpoints along the way.

The GPS sets, which guide users along tracks marked by digital "waypoints", have often been used by terrorists to operate in unfamiliar environments, most famously during the [[2008 Mumbai attacks]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/gurdaspur-terror-attack-gps-shows-terror-team-from-pakistan-got-drug-cartel-help-too/|title=Gurdaspur terror attack: GPS shows terror team from Pakistan, got help from drug cartel too|date=2015-07-28|website=The Indian Express|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-17}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[List of terrorist incidents in India]]
* [[List of terrorist incidents in Punjab (India)]]
* [[List of terrorist incidents, 2015]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gurdaspur attack, 2015}}
[[Category:Terrorist incidents on buses in India]]
[[Category:Terrorism in Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Gurdaspur district|2015 attack]]
[[Category:2010s in Punjab, India]]
[[Category:July 2015 crimes in Asia]]
[[Category:2015 mass murders]]
[[Category:Spree shootings in India]]
[[Category:21st-century mass murders in India]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in India in 2015]]
[[Category:July 2015 in India]]
[[Category:2015 murders in India]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorism in India]]
[[Category:Attacks on police stations in India]]
[[Category:Attacks on police stations in 2015]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorist incidents in 2015]]
[[Category:2015 mass shootings in Asia]]
[[Category:Grenade attacks in India]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents on railway systems in India]]
[[Category:2015 road incidents in Asia]]
[[Category:Railway accidents and incidents in Punjab, India]]

2015 Gurdaspur attack - Revision history

MohamedBehan20 at 11:18, 25 April 2026