QUEPEM (Goa): Washing his hands off the controversy over a Pakistani Joint Investigation Team’s visit to the Pathankot airbase tomorrow, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said the “crime scene” is under the control of NIA and it is up to the agency to decide who to allow there or not.
Noting that no permission has been given by the Defence Ministry for entry into the airbase, he said that the “crime scene”, a “non-sensitive” area, has been completely barricaded, including visually, on his orders and no defence asset would be used to facilitate the visit of the Pakistani team.
“However, an area where the actual crime had taken place had been handed over to NIA long back which is conducting the entire investigation. Who will be taken there, who will probe, depends on the decision of NIA,” Parrikar said replying to questions here on the sidelines of Defexpo.
“We have specifically refused them permission to go anywhere in the airbase,” he said.
He said that as far as the Defence Ministry is concerned, they have issued clear directions that the “crime scene” should be barricaded — visually blocked or obstructed — and that external entry should be given to NIA.
The minister said he had issued the instructions following media reports.
“Whom to bring, when to bring is their responsibility till they complete the investigation,” he said.(Agencies)
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