Pathankot & after: In Gurdaspur, NIA examines signs of infiltration at border

While the boot marks are being domestically examined to match them with those found on the bodies of the slain terrorists, the NIA has found that this 6-km stretch is quite vulnerable to infiltration.

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“There are many gaps in the fencing on this stretch because of rivers flowing in and out of India. The Ujjh river enters and exits many times on this stretch. Some of the gaps are as wide as 30 feet,” an NIA officer said. Sources said it was not difficult to cross this stretch as the rivers are shallow (with water reaching just above the knee) and large parts of the riverbed are dry.

“While a firm conclusion can be drawn only after the forensic report is in, there is reasonable suspicion that the terrorists entered from this stretch,” said another NIA officer.

The revelations run contrary to the BSF’s findings. A team formed under a DIG-level officer to scan the entire length of the Punjab border to find out how and where the terrorists entered has not been able to reach any conclusion.

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The BSF maintains that there was no breach on the fence and all vulnerable gaps on the northern Punjab border were covered with digital video recorders and thermal imaging cameras, which have not captured any incident of infiltration.

The force, however, is not shying away from the responsibility of a possible lapse that led to the entry of the terrorists, and is already conducting a court of inquiry against two of its officers who were responsible for border vigilance in Gurdaspur.

Meanwhile, the NIA continued to question Gurdaspur SP Salwinder Singh, who underwent a lie detector test on Tuesday and may be subjected to the test again on Wednesday.

NIA DG Sharad Kumar said that Singh continues to remain a suspect and that the agency is verifying his revelations. The DG also said that India will soon send evidence against the terrorists to Pakistan.

“Pakistan has sought evidence from us. We will send them soon,” he said. Sources said these would include reports of forensic tests conducted on the boot marks near Bamial, DNA reports of the slain terrorists and voice samples of handlers and terrorists as recorded during intercepts. The NIA will also send documentary evidence on the inventory of articles found on the bodies of the terrorists. Many of these bear markings of having been manufactured in Pakistan. Sources said the agency is still questioning people inside and outside the IAF base in Pathankot to ascertain if the terrorists got any local help.