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Roundup: 6 killed in terror attacks in N. India

Xinhua, July 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

At least six people were killed and five others injured in terror attacks in the northern Indian state of Punjab's Gurdaspur district near the international border with Pakistan Monday, a senior police official said.

"The terror attacks began around 5.30 a.m. (local time). Some four terrorists in army uniforms first hijacked a car, then opened fire on a passenger bus before storming into a police station in Dinanagar where they were holed up for several hours before being gunned down," he said on condition of anonymity.

Five live bombs have been also found on train tracks nearby, he said.

Those dead included Punjab's superintendent of police ( detective) Baljit Singh, who was killed during gunbattle with the terrorists, two cops and three civilians, some of whom were on the bus. Those hurt have been admitted to a government hospital, the official said.

Local TV channels reported that the terrorists, who were suicide attackers, were suspected to be of Pakistani origin and said that security along the international border with Pakistan has been stepped up in the wake of the terror attacks.

Meanwhile, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh has issued a stern warning to Pakistan. "I can't understand why time and again cross-border terror incidents are taking place when we want good relations with our neighbor," he told the media.

The home minister added: "We want peace with Pakistan, but not at the cost of national honor. We will not be the first to strike, but if we are hit, we will give a befitting reply."

Earlier in the day, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting with top ministers to discuss the attack as the country's main opposition Congress party has alleged a major intelligence failure on part of the government.

Security experts say such terror assaults are common in the disputed territory of Kashmir, but attacks in neighboring Punjab are extremely rare.

"The attacks came weeks after Modi met Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Russia, resulting in an agreement to resume bilateral talks between the two countries. The shifting of terror attacks from Kashmir to Punjab indicates a shifting scenario in India," said Kaushal Gupta, an expert. Endi