NIA questions Gurdaspur SP, Singh may undergo lie-detector test

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) sleuths will question Punjab’s superintendent of police Salwinder Singh on Monday in the connection with their probe into the Pathankot attack.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) sleuths will question Punjab’s superintendent of police Salwinder Singh on Monday in the connection with their probe into the Pathankot attack.

SP Salwinder Singh claimed that he was abdected by five suspected militants in Pathankot, a day before the attack. (HT Photo)

“Singh has been asked to appear at the agency’s headquarters at 11am on Monday,” said an official of the agency.

The federal anti-terror agency formally served summons to Salwinder Singh on Friday.

Singh has claimed that he along with two companions – a jeweler Rajesh Verma and cook-cum-helper Madan Gopal - was abducted by terrorists involved in Pathankot attack on the intervening night of Decermber 31 and January 1.

Sources say Salwinder has been less than truthful in his questioning by the NIA so far.

Salwainder was superintendent of police (headquarters) in Punjab but he was transferred out as assistant commandant of 75th battalion of Punjab Armed Police in Jalandhar after handing over charge on December 31.

Sources say Salwinder Singh will questioned in Delhi but his cook Madan Gopal will be grilled in Chandigarh by the NIA officials.

There have been many questions on which Salwinder is yet to give truthful answers. There have been many discrepancies in the versions of abduction-cum-carjacking episode narrated by Salwinder, his jeweler friend and cook, say NIA sources.

The NIA is also probing whether Singh has any linkages with drug cartels that operate in the Gurdaspur-Pathankot belt.

It is being suspected that weapons used by the Pathankot attackers may have reached India as a drug consignment separately, said sources.