MHA seeks Punjab government's consent for NIA probe to terror attack

NEW DELHI: The Centre today sought for the second time the Punjab government's opinion on handing over the Gurdaspur terror attack case to NIA.

In a fresh communication, the Home Ministry reminded its earlier letter where it had sought the state government's opinion on handing over the probe into the July 27 incident to the National Investigation Agency.

Sources said the Home Ministry is pitching for handing over the investigation to the specialised anti-terror probe agency.

"There are provisions in law for NIA to take over the case suo motto. But we are looking for a consent of the state government and would like to wait for it," a source said.

In the pre-dawn attack, the terrorists, suspected to be members of either Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) or Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), in army fatigues first targeted a roadside eatery, then sprayed bullets on a passenger bus and later barged into Dinanagar police station in Gurdaspur.

Seven persons--three civilians, SP (Detective) Baljit Singh and three home guards-- were killed by the terrorists.

A Punjab police SWAT commando team later eliminated the three terrorists after a long-drawn operation.