Pathankot attack: NIA 'ascertains' terrorists' route to IAF air base

NEW DELHI: The four militants who attacked the Pathankot air base travelled nearly 43 kilometres after abducting Punjab Superintendent of Police Salwinder Singh on the night of December 31, the National Investigation Agency has said, adding that it has “ascertained” the entire route taken by the terrorists.

The agency claimed the four men dressed in civvies and changed into Army fatigues after they crossed the international border near River Ujj. The four are believed to have walked a distance of nearly 3 km before taking the cab, said investigators. According to sources in the agency, the SUV in which the SP, his friend Rajesh Verma and cook Madan Gopal were abducted stayed on the Highway connecting Pathankot. NIA, which has been questioning Singh for past three days, said it has verified the route from the statements given by the SP and his friend.

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In a statement, NIA also said it is in the process of collecting CCTV footage on the routes taken by terrorists to the air force base. The move comes after an ET report highlighting that the cops are not examining CCTV footage installed at gas stations. NIA investigators said they are studying the similarities between the 2013 Samba attack and the Pathankot attack after a Chinese wireless set was found from the car of SP Singh.