Chandigarh, Jan 24: After facing rigorous questioning for over two weeks in connection with the Pathankot terror attack, senior Punjab Police officer Salwinder Singh is likely to be cleared by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Sources said after lie-detector and other tests found nothing adverse against him, there is nothing to suggest that he had a role in the attack at the Air Force base.
Singh, an SP-rank officer, has been examined by the agency at its headquarter for the last 15 days, has also undergone a series of scientific tests.
Sources said, “If the need arises Salwinder can be called for questioning later, but at this point of time it seems there is nothing against him.”
After facing rigorous questioning for over two weeks in connection with the Pathankot terror attack, senior Punjab Police officer Salwinder Singh is likely to be cleared by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Sources said after lie-detector and other tests found nothing adverse against him, there is nothing to suggest that he had a role in the attack at the Air Force base.
Singh, an SP-rank officer, has been examined by the agency at its headquarter for the last 15 days, has also undergone a series of scientific tests.
Sources said, “If the need arises Salwinder can be called for questioning later, but at this point of time it seems there is nothing against him.”
Raids at various locations, including his office, residence and native place in Amritsar, did not result in the recovery of incriminating documents, the investigating officers said.
The NIA questioned Singh to ascertain the sequence of events that took place after he along with his cook Madan Gopal and his jeweller friend Rajesh Verma were kidnapped on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1 by terrorists of Pakistan-based Jaishe-Mohammed(JeM).
The SP, who had claimed that he was abducted by the group of terrorists who attacked the Pathankot Indian Air Force Station, was under NIA scanner following suspicion that he was part of the drug racket being run in the bordering districts of Pathankot and Gurdaspur, sources said.
“The kidnappers released Singh, his cook but slit the throat of Rajesh Verma before dumping them on the road and speeding away which further raised suspicion,” NIA sources said.
Singh’s car was used by the terrorists from Pakistan to approach the 2000-acre air force base at Pathankot, which they reportedly entered by scaling a 10-foot high wall with a rope. The attack, conducted by them and another pair of terrorists, commenced from the intervening night of January 1 and 2. Seven military men were martyred and 20 injured before the base was secured nearly 80 hours later.
Four bodies of terrorists belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammed group were recovered. Two others are believed to have been burnt in the building where they were holed up during the encounter. Raids at various locations, including his office, residence and native place in Amritsar, did not result in the recovery of incriminating documents, the investigating officers said.
The NIA questioned Singh to ascertain the sequence of events that took place after he along with his cook Madan Gopal and his jeweller friend Rajesh Verma were kidnapped on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1 by terrorists of Pakistan-based Jaishe-Mohammed(JeM).
The SP, who had claimed that he was abducted by the group of terrorists who attacked the Pathankot Indian Air Force Station, was under NIA scanner following suspicion that he was part of the drug racket being run in the bordering districts of Pathankot and Gurdaspur, sources said.
“The kidnappers released Singh, his cook but slit the throat of Rajesh Verma before dumping them on the road and speeding away which further raised suspicion,” NIA sources said.
Singh’s car was used by the terrorists from Pakistan to approach the 2000-acre air force base at Pathankot, which they reportedly entered by scaling a 10-foot high wall with a rope. The attack, conducted by them and another pair of terrorists, commenced from the intervening night of January 1 and 2. Seven military men were martyred and 20 injured before the base was secured nearly 80 hours later.
Four bodies of terrorists belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammed group were recovered. Two others are believed to have been burnt in the building where they were holed up during the encounter.
