Fidayeen attack: CRPF personel on suspects' list

Lucknow, Jan 3: Even as the investigating agencies were yet to receive any formadable lead on the CRPF group centre attack at Rampur on New Year, the security forces are interrogating a CRPF jawan -- a former Kashmir militant -- for his suspicious role during the attack.

Though officials are yet to confirm the questioning of the said jawan, who hails from Baramula in the Kashmir Valley, sources maintained that the suspect jawan has been brought to the state capital for intensive interrogation. According to highly placed sources, the suspect CRPF jawan, who was once a militant but surrendered in Kashmir and joined the Central Force, was on duty at the Control Room-2 where the terrorist attacked first and shot dead a security man.

As per the version of the CRPF jawan, he was sleeping there but could not justify his statement when he was shown marks of at least 16 bullets on the wall of the control room. He also could not convince the investigators as to why he did not react after hearing the gunshots, in which one of his colleauge died.

Sources maintained that at present in the Rampur group centre, there are 68 jawans and officers hailing from the Kashmir valley, including eight jawans who have joined the force after leaving the various terrorist outfits.

Meanwhile, telephonic record and other details of the suspected CRPF jawan was being investigated by the security forces. The investigating agencies are also looking into the links of the terrorist groups of the Kashmir Valley into the attack.

Yesterday too, police had picked up two suspects for questioning.

Meanwhile, IG (CRPF) Karmveer Singh said the New Year bash at the Rampur CRPF group centre ended at 1230 hrs. ''There was no lapse in the security set up...the men killed or injured in the attack were not drunk,'' he added.

Meanwhile, sources said at least two people were detained for questioning at Rampur. A senior police official, who is part of the investigating team, toldto the sources several people were being questioned. But he denied that anyone was detained or arrested so far.''Questioning is a part of the investigation process,'' he added.

Condemning the fidayeen attack, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has blamed paramilitary forces for the incident.

''Despite several alerts by the intelligence agencies and the UP government, the CRPF did not make suitable arrangements to fend off such an attack,'' she lamented. ''They should have been more careful following the threat perception,'' Ms Mayawati added.

UNI