NIA chief Kuldiep Singh on April 23 visited Jammu’s Sunjwan area where two suicide bombers of banned Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) were killed in a fierce gunfight with security forces ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit, officials said.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) chief, who reached Jammu on April 22 evening, was accompanied by Inspector General of CRPF, Jammu sector, P.S. Ranpise.
Mr. Singh, who is also the Director-General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), was briefed about the gun battle by CRPF officers, including Commandant of 38th Battalion Dhirendra Verma, the officials said.
The NIA Director-General also visited the venue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public rally at Palli panchayat in Samba district and reviewed the security situation, they said.
Besides the two terrorists, a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officer died in the gunfight that took place near an Army camp in Sunjwan on April 22. Nine security personnel were also injured as forces engaged the terrorists after they attacked a bus carrying CISF personnel.
“Yes, a major attack was thwarted [by security forces],” Mr. Singh said after receiving the briefing about the encounter.
Asked whether the NIA will take over the case, he said, “It will depend...we will see, nothing can be said at the moment.” On the security arrangements for the Prime Minister’s visit, he said all the necessary arrangements will be made.
Later, the officials said, Mr. Singh visited Palli panchayat and was briefed by senior officers about the security arrangements there.
Special teams of the NIA and the State Investigation Agency (SIA) had visited the encounter site on Friday evening.
Director-General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh had said the two slain terrorists were part of a suicide squad of Pakistan-based JeM and their infiltration could be a “big conspiracy” to sabotage the Prime Minister’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir.
The Prime Minister will visit Palli village, 17 km from in Jammu, on National Panchayati Raj Day on April 24. He is also scheduled to address a gathering there.
According to officials, a multi-tier security setup has been put in place for PM Modi’s visit.
An alert has been sounded along the border and a high degree of vigilance is being maintained at vital installations in Jammu and Kashmir in view of the visit, officials said on Friday.
