Sunjuwan terror attack case handed over to NIA

Material in Bishnah ‘blast’ sent for analysis
Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 25: Sensational fidayeen attack case at Sunjuwan on April 22 ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jammu was today formally handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) which will now take over the First Information Report (FIR) registered in this connection at Trikuta Nagar Police Station.
Police sources told the Excelsior that case diaries and all related documents pertaining to the fidayeen attack will be handed over to the NIA.
Almost all such terror attacks, which took place earlier also in Jammu and Kashmir, were handed over to the NIA. Some of the terror-related cases are now being investigated by the State Investigation Agency (SIA).
While NIA and SIA teams had visited site of the terror attack on April 22 itself, NIA chief Kuldiep Singh had visited the spot next day.
Meanwhile, three persons, arrested in connection with the recent encounter in Sunjuwan area here, were today remanded in police custody for 10 days.
Two Pashto-speaking suicide bombers of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) were killed in the encounter after they managed to sneak from across the border and killed a CISF officer by attacking his bus in Sunjuwan on Friday.
Driver Bilal Ahmad Wagay and his helper Ishfaq Chopan of Kokernag area, who allegedly transported the militants in a mini-truck from Supwal border in Samba to Sunjuwan, and Shafiq Ahmad Sheikh of Tral who had received the ultras and also arranged their stay in a house in the area for a day were arrested in the case so far.
Police have also detained the house owner for questioning. However, he is yet to be arrested formally in the case.
Producing the three accused before the court of Third Additional Session Judge, also a designated NIA court, the officials said police sought their remand for interrogation.
The court granted 10 days remand of the accused to the police and accordingly they were whisked away for questioning.
Meanwhile, police teams today visited village Laliana in Bishnah tehsil of Jammu district where a mysterious explosion took place in wee hours of yesterday morning just hours ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Palli Panchayat in Samba district.
The blast caused big crater at the spot.
Sources said entire material in the crater has been sent for analysis in a specialized laboratory outside Jammu and Kashmir to ascertain whether it was an explosive device, meteorite or anything else.
Police authorities have so far not reached any conclusion due to different versions by the local people.
“Whether it is an explosive device dropped by a drone, IED planted underground or a meteorite, will be known after detailed analysis of the material sent to the laboratory,” sources said.
Police have so far not registered a blast case.
Sources said the case will be registered only after report of the material sent for analysis is received.
They added that village Laliana is more than 10 kilometers from the International Border with Pakistan.