Gurdaspur terror ends, all three terrorists killed

In the first such strike in Punjab in eight years, three suspected Pakistan-based terrorists attacked a passenger bus and stormed a police station in Dinanagar early Monday, killing seven persons including an SP, before being gunned down after a 12-hour firefight. Director General of Police Sumedh Singh Saini said the terrorists, wearing combat fatigues, were carrying two GPS systems and hand grenades. Five bombs placed by the terrorists on the railway tracks were removed by a bomb disposal squad. – See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/anti-terror-operation-in-gurdaspur-ends-all-terrorists-

“It is too early to say where they had come from,” Saini said, before adding that there were some “pointers”. He said these “pointers” did not suggest any link to groups seeking a separate Khalistan. Dinanagar is nearly 20 kmfrom the border with Pakistan. In the dawn attack, the terrorists, suspected to be members of Pakistan-based terror groups, first targeted a roadside eatery, then fired at a passenger bus before storming the Dinanagar police station. Seven persons — three civilians, Superintendent of Police (Detective) Baljit Singh and three home guards — were killed by the terrorists who engaged Punjab policemen from inside the building they were holed up in – See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/anti-terror-operation-in-gurdaspur-ends-all-terrorists-

Former President APJ Abdul Kalam Dies at 83

SHILLONG: India’s 11th President APJ Abdul Kalam died on Monday evening at a hospital in Meghalaya, where he had gone to deliver a lecture. He was 83.

The former President, who was in office from 2002 to 2007, had collapsed during the lecture at the Indian Institute of Management, Shillong, around 6.30 pm. He was taken to the Bethany hospital. Doctors said he had suffered from a massive cardiac arrest.

“President Kalam was brought to the hospital at 7 pm. When he brought in there was no sign of life. He was taken to ICU to try and revive him, which was futile,” hospital sources told NDTV.

The government will declare a seven-day national mourning, reported Press Trust of India, quoting Union Home Secretary LC Goel.

Paying a special tribute to Dr Kalam later in the evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “My mind is filled with so many memories, so many interactions with him. Always marvelled at his intellect, learnt so much from him.”

Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted, “Deeply saddened at the sudden demise of the former president of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. He was an inspiration to an entire generation.”