Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 7: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) today issued a formal order handing over the investigations of Narsu (Samroli) terror attack to the National Investigating Agency but the NIA was yet to take over case diary, the Pakistani militant captured alive, seizure of weaponry and related documents from Udhampur police as the official order from the MHA was likely to reach here in the next couple of days.
The NIA has, meanwhile, established the camp office here and would take remand of captured Pakistani militant Mohammad Naved Yaqub from the NIA Court in Jammu once it takes over the investigations.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Atul Goel, SSP in NIA, who had served in Jammu and Kashmir as SSP Jammu and Kathua and was known for his investigation skills and who was yesterday named as Chief Investigating Officer (CIO) in the case by the NIA Director General, today visited Narsu, Samroli, the scene of August 5 encounter between BSF and two Pakistani militants, this morning along with police officials for on spot investigations and recreation of the entire scene.
Goel was at the spot for about two hours and examined all spots including the place, where militants took tea before carrying out the attack and the mountain from where Naved was captured alive by the local people. He also met some of the civilians and eye-witnesses of the attack before returning.
Sources said Udhampur police officials would be assisting the NIA in investigations.
“The MHA has today formally issued the order handing over investigations of August 5 terror attack at Narsu, Samroli on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in which two BSF jawans and a Pakistani terrorist were killed, 13 BSF jawans were injured and one Pakistani militant was captured alive, to the NIA. However, the NIA will formally take over investigations when the MHA order reached them, which was expected in next couple of days,’’ sources said.
They added that entire case diary will be formally handed over by Udhampur police to the NIA, which would include copy of the FIR registered at Chenani police station, custody of arrested Pakistani militant Mohammad Naved Yaqub, all weapons and ammunition seized from the slain and captured militants and related documents.
Chenani police in Udhampur district had registered FIR No. 60/2015 under Sections 120, 120-B, 307, 302 RPC, 7/25 Arms Act and 15/16 Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the encounter.
The NIA, according to sources, has registered its FIR at New Delhi, which would be transferred to its camp office in Jammu when the Agency takes over the investigations officially.
The NIA will try the case in the NIA Court at Jammu.
Sources said Naved will be taken to Kashmir after takeover of the investigations as he had crossed over from Kupwara and stayed there with several militants including Abu Qasim, the South Kashmir Incharge of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit. The NIA has already questioned Naved about the militant and his truck in which both Pakistani militants had travelled from Kulgam to Narsu with night halt between Patnitop and Kud.
Meanwhile, Army, CRPF and police have launched massive search operations at village Sangh and surrounding areas to track down the militants involved in last night’s attack at Sangh Police Post in which SPO Gul Mohammad, Incharge of the Post was injured.
Details emerging today indicated that Gul Mohammad had come out of the house, which was close to the Police Post running from a rented room, for washing his hands when suddenly firing started. Gul Mohammad was injured in the firing.
Simultaneously, other SPOs from the Police Post and Village Defence Committee (VDC) members retaliated the firing. Exchanges continued till midnight last night. Army reached the village in wee hours of the morning followed by CRPF and police. Local people carried injured SPO in a ‘palki’ and shifted him to Basantgarh trekking about 15 kilometers on foot. He was airlifted to the Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu this afternoon from Basantgarh. He had sustained two gunshot wounds.
IAF Pilot V Takawale showed bravery in airlifting the injured SPO despite bad weather.
Media personnel were, however, not allowed to inter-act with the injured SPO.
Army, CRPF and police personnel continued searches throughout the day today but there were no traces of the militants, who had reportedly managed to escape. Senior police officers also visited the spot. Searches continued and administration has strengthened police presence at Sangh, which was once a route used by the militants to reach Doda after infiltration. However, for the past quite sometimes, there had been no movement of the militants in the area.
Senior police officers visited the village today for investigations and inter-acted with surviving SPOs and VDC members. Police have stepped up vigil at Sangh and surrounding villages apart from Basantgarh and hilly areas.
As reported, Sangh police post had strength of eight police personnel but four of them had come down to Ramnagar for training and only four were present at the Police Post including injured Gul Mohammad when the attack took place.
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