Pathankot attack: Why did terrorists let the SP go, NIA seeks to know

Pathankot, Jan 5: How many terrorists abducted Gurdaspur Superintendent of Police, Salwinder Singh? His initial account was five, but the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which questioned him in connection with the investigation into the Pathankot terror attack, has found several inconsistencies.

The examination of his cook Madan Gopal, who was also in the car when the SP was abducted, too has failed to give a correct picture to the NIA.

[Timeline of Pathankot terror attack]

The NIA, which has registered three cases in connection with the Pathankot attack, has its task cut out.

NIA officials tell OneIndia that the lead up to the attack seems like a puzzle and unless and until there is clarity in the versions of those we have questioned the real answers will not come out.

What the NIA seeks to understand?

First and foremost, the NIA is trying to solve the mystery as to why the terrorists did not harm the SP and his cook.

The reason this question has cropped up is because prior to the abduction of the SP, the terrorists had boarded a taxi and later on killed the driver.

The terrorists would have been aware that had by leaving the SP alive, there was a good chance that he would complain about them and their plan would have been foiled.

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"We are not casting any aspersions on anyone as yet, the NIA official informed. However, this is a question that has popped up and we are trying to get to the root of the matter," said an official.

According to the SP's account to the NIA, he was abducted and later dumped in a dense forest. The car with a blue beacon light was stolen.

The NIA suspects that this was the same vehicle that the terrorists used to get to the air base. However, the vehicle was found parked around a kilometre away from the air base on the day of the attack (January 2 2016).

When questioned, the SP said that the terrorists did not harm him because they thought he was not a cop.

"I convinced them about it," he reportedly told the NIA. There are several other inconsistencies in the statement given by Madan Gopal too.

The NIA questioned him about the places he and his boss had visited on that night. He said that they had gone to pray at a temple and upon their return they were abducted.

The NIA is ascertaining why there was no security with them especially when they were driving around in such a sensitive area.

OneIndia News