Security agencies to examine Punjab Police SP: report
The agencies will verify the antecedents of Salwinder Singh, the purpose of his visit to the secluded area in Pathankot at the odd hours
New Delhi: Security agencies, including National Investigation Agency (NIA), will thoroughly examine Punjab Police SP Salwinder Singh, who was kidnapped along with a jeweller friend and cook by the terrorists who struck at the Pathankot air base, government sources said on Tuesday.
The agencies will verify the antecedents of Singh, the purpose of his visit to the secluded area in Pathankot at the odd hours and why he was not accompanied by any of his PSOs besides others, the sources said in New Delhi.
Singh, jeweller Rajesh Verma and Singh’s cook were kidnapped by heavily-armed terrorists on 31 December when they were travelling in the officer’s SUV. While Singh and the cook was freed without any harm, Verma’s throat was slit but he survived miraculously.
Even though Singh informed police about his kidnapping by the terrorists, police officers whom the SP had informed about the incident initially did not take him seriously, thus leading to some crucial hours being lost.
The SP had said that he was returning after visiting a shrine on 31 December night. Singh also said his timely information ahead of the attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot alerted security agencies and prevented a major terror strike.
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