NIA top officer almost steps on live grenade at Pathankot airbase

CHANDIGARH: The Jaish-eMohammad (JeM) terrorists who attacked the Pathankot airbase have left behind many ' booby traps' that the armed forces are grappling with more than a week after the operation got over. On Monday , NIA inspector general S K Singh, who is heading the probe into the attack, almost stepped on a well-concealed live hand grenade.

Fortunately , a colleague alerted him in time after noticing the unusually raised clump of grass. The live grenade was barely inches away from Singh's feet, lying under some bricks. While its pin had been removed, its lever was unreleased. The gentlest shift in position would have triggered an explosion. “The pressure was created by bricks and it was concealed by vegetation to ensure it didn't explode until someone stepped on it,“ said an NIA official. Clearly, the terrorists were well trained to inflict casualties even after their elimination.

Sources in the NIA and Punjab Police told TOI that at least 16 booby traps in which grenades were used have been found on the airbase at different locations.