Pathankot Attack: NIA Officials Question SP Singh on Abduction

NIA led by DG Sharad Kumar have taken over the terror attack investigation. They started by questioning SP Singh.

The NIA has officially taken over the investigation of the Pathankot terror attack. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons/The Quint)

Sources said Punjab Superintendent of Police Salwinder Singh, his cook Madan Gopal and businessman friend Rajesh Verma, who were allegedly abducted by the terrorists in Singh’s vehicle, were being questioned by National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials at his official residence here on Tuesday evening.

The SP, who was transferred from Gurdaspur last week, had earlier claimed that he, along with Verma and the cook, were stopped and abducted by 4-5 heavily armed terrorists near Kolia village, 25 km from Pathankot, on the night of 31 December.

<p> My information was 100 percent true. There is no doubt about it. After untying myself, I went to a nearby village Golpur Simbli and told them who I was. I called up my officers and gave them the information. My information prevented a major incident. They (terrorists) could have done big damage to the public if I had not informed.</p>

The police superintendent’s seniors did not take his version seriously for many hours.

“I informed senior officers immediately. I don’t know why the delay took place,” Salwinder Singh said.

• The police officer has said his car was stopped around 11.30 p.m. on Thursday (31 December), while the attack began early on Saturday (2 January).
  
• Punjab Police and security agencies did nothing till the terrorists entered the Pathankot Air Force Station (AFS).
• SP Singh claims the terrorists came back in his car, which had a blue beacon on top, to find him, where he and his cook had been dumped near a drain in a forest area on Thursday night.

“Only I know what happened with me. I have got a new life. The truth has come out. Only I and god know how I returned,” Salwinder Singh said.

The counter-offensive against the terrorists by security forces inside the Pathankot base saw six terrorists being killed. Security forces lost seven personnel.

There are many questions that crop up from the can of worms SP Singh has opened. He now faces with sexual harassment charges. Read the full story here.