Question: Which militant group claimed responsibility for the Pathankot Airbase attack?
(a) SIMI
(b) United Jihad Council
(c) Jaish-e-Mohammad
(d) Hizbul Mujahideen
Ans (b)
Related facts:
- On the morning of 2 January 2016 at around 03:30 IST a group of terrorists attacked the Pathankot Airbase with Huge amounts of explosive material and arsenal.
- Following this a joint combing operation by the armed forces, police and security personnel was launched.
- 2 militants and three security forces personnel were killed in the initial gun battle on 2 January 2016.
- They entered the living quarters of the base but were prevented from entering the area where “high-value assets are parked”.
- Overall, six militants and seven security personnel were killed in the attack.
- The operation launched by the Indian Army to neutralize the attackers called “Operation Dhangu” or “Dhangu Suraksha”, named after the village Dhangu where the base is located
- Seven security forces personnel that were killed includes 5 from Defence Security Corps, one from Garuda Indian Air Force commando and one was related to National Security Guard.
- On 4 January 2016, United Jihad Council (UJC) claimed the responsibility for the Pathankot Airbase attack.
- TheUnited Jihad Council, also known as the Muttahida Jihad Council (MJC), is a Kashmiri separatist militant group was formed in 1994.
- It is currently headed by Syed Salahuddin.
Reference:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Pathankot_attack
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/03/world/asia/india-air-base-attack-pathankot.html?_r=2