Gurdaspur, Jul 27 (PTI): Four heavily armed terrorists wearing army uniform on Monday went on a rampage attacking a bus and a police station complex, leaving five persons, including a policeman, dead and several injured in Gurdaspur district bordering Pakistan. 

The terrorists struck a moving bus at Dinanagar area at 5am, spraying bullets at passengers, injuring four. The assailants then targeted a health centre followed by a building where the families of police personnel reside and hurled grenades before entering the police station.  

Army columns have been mobilised as the 'fidayeen' militants were holed up in Dinanagar police station complex. Special forces too have been deployed and a gunbattle was on several hours after the mayhem started. 

According to police, the attackers first targeted a roadside eatery and took off in a Maruti 800 with Punjab registration number. They shot dead a roadside vendor near Dinanagar bypass.   

They then opened fire on the bus before targeting a community health centre adjacent to Dinanagar police station, killing three civilians including a woman and a policeman. 

The gunmen then entered the Dinanagar police station and opened fire in which five policemen were seriously injured. 
The militants also targeted another part of the complex where the families of police personnel reside. 

Local resident Kamaljeet Singh Matharu, who said that the assailants had snatched his car after firing at him, said they were dressed in army uniform and were heavily armed. 

Matharu received gunshot injuries and is admitted to hospital.  

In a related development, five live bombs were found on Amritsar-Pathankot railway track and the train services on the route have been suspended. 

The Home Ministry said that an alert has been sounded along the border with Pakistan. Union home minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval about the situation. 
Singh assured Badal of full central assistance and said, ”I have instructed DG BSF to put his troops along border on alert.” 

”I have spoken to the Punjab chief minister, who apprised me of the developing situation in Gurdaspur. Security forces have rushed to the spot,” Singh, who was on his way to Madhya Pradesh, said. 

Army was called in from Pathankot and the whole area has been cordoned off. Quick Reaction Teams, bomb squads and a heavy police contingent including senior officers have been deployed in the area, which lies close to the Indo-Pakistan border.   

Two army helicopters were also pressed into operation.

Officials said schools, colleges and other institutions have been shut on Monday in the town in view of the incident.
Three of the dead were identified as Ghulam Rasool, Asha Rani and Amarjeet Singh.

Badal and deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal have condemned the attack and said that law and order will be maintained at all costs. The chief minister has summoned an emergency meeting. 

Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh said there have been reports earlier also of infiltration from Pakistan and “cross-border mischief” in this “vulnerable” zone.

Defence minister Manohar Parrikar said, “Special forces, which can counter insurgency and terrorist forces, have been deployed. Army has done all it should.” 

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said there is no hostage situation. 

Union home secretary L.C.Goyal has spoken to Punjab DGP Sumedh Singh Saini and is monitoring the situation, officials said. 

A high alert has been sounded and security strengthened across Punjab, neighbouring Haryana and Union Territory of Chandigarh in the wake of the terror attack which came less than three weeks before the country's Independence Day. 

Additional security personnel have been deployed around vital installations and key public places in the state and along its borders with Jammu and Kashmir.

Police has set up 'nakas' and intensified checking of vehicles. 

Ishwar Chandra Sharma, IG, Border Zone, said the gunmen attacked a Punjab roadways bus and then entered the police station complex. 

”We have engaged them in an adjoining building which is an abandoned building and a barrack,” he said. 

”Four-five bombs have also been found on railway track on way to Dinanagar,” he added. 

Fear gripped the town on Monday morning and people largely remained indoors. 

”People are in a state of shock and terrified here after they came to know about the attack,” said Jatinder Kumar, whose house is just 500 metre away from the Dina Nagar police station, about 25 km from Pathankot town.   

Dina Nagar is the third largest town in Gurdaspur district. 

”We can still listen to the sound of firing going on at police station between and security personnel and (suspected) militants,” Jatinder, who is an employee of Punjab Health department, told PTI over phone. 

Punjab's Superintendent of Police (Detective) Baljit Singh died in gunbattle with terrorists in Gurdaspur, says IG Gaurav Yadav.