The Dinanagar-Kathua road, which is a route to riches for many who transport sand and gravel from the Ravi to other parts of the state, has seen much action in the past few days.
Teams of state police, Intelligence Bureau, BSF, Army, NSG and NIA are often seen tracing the route followed by terrorists on this stretch from where one section leads to about 8 km away to Bamial village on the Indo-Pak border and another to Kathua via Narot Jaimal Singh (about 6 km).
The Tribune team, in a bid to trace the series of events which led to the abduction of SP Salwinder Singh and his associates, travelled on the route. Amid zero visibility on the potholed road and scary surroundings of the 2,200-acre Raipur-Kathlore forest spread across Punjab and Jammu areas, our car was stopped by an ASI and his team of six.
They entered our names, phone numbers and vehicle registration number in a register. They allowed us to proceed only after authenticating our identity.
Only four days ago, a police team on this and at least three other such barriers let a Mahindra XUV pass without checking or making an entry in the register, thinking the vehicle belonged to a senior police official.
They even saluted the XUV occupants with no clue that the persons inside were terrorists and the SP was in their captivity.
At Kathlor bridge barrier, the same thing happened. The XUV zoomed past. “We were alerted by our colleagues on other nakas that SP Salwinder Singh was travelling on an SUV probably to check barriers at night,” said a head constable at the bridge naka, admitting he was so wrong.
The SP and his two companions were reportedly returning from Khwaja Peer shrine in Taloor on December 31 when they were abducted by the ultras.
Taxi driver Ikaagar Singh too was confronted by terrorists while he was on his way to Kohlian. Ikaagar was found dead near banks of the Ravi at Kohlian village.
At a third barrier in the middle of nowhere bright torch lights suddenly erupted with three policemen signalling us to stop. Once again they took time to verify our antecedents. They seemed over-suspicious. As one of the team members entered details in a register, more policemen appeared and insisted on checking the car’s boot again. “Our strategy is that only three persons remain visible to an approaching vehicle while another three-four remain out of sight to provide cover in case of any exigency,” a policeman said.
On learning about our destination, which was still about 8 km away from that point, the policemen advised us against going further, saying that the area was not only unsafe but finding the way would be difficult at midnight with no sign boards or anyone to ask for directions.
Despite having a local guide with us, we took a couple of wrong turns and had to retrace our steps. The terrorists, on the other hand, managed to find their way to the Air Force station in the dark.
Rs 25 lakh, job for martyrs’ kin
Gurdaspur: Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday announced a financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh and a government job each for the next of kin of Subedar Major Fateh Singh and Havildar Kulwant Singh, who were killed in the Pathankot attack. Interacting with the media during his Sangat Darshan in Qadian, the CM said it was a modest effort by the state to pay tributes to the brave hearts who had made the supreme sacrifice for the country. — TNS
Pak must act against rogue elements: Capt
Amritsar: State Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh said while the talks between India and Pakistan should continue, Pakistan must make it a point to initiate action against the rogue elements who have owned up the responsibility for attack on the Pathankot airbase. The Amritsar MP also said instead of putting the NSG in charge of the operations in Pathankot, it should have been handled by the Army. — TNS
Security up at Amritsar jail
Amritsar: The Amritsar Central Jail authorities have beefed up security on the premises as a number of hardcore convicts are lodged there. There are 74 foreign inmates. Of these, 13 are undertrials, 21 convicts and 40 interns. Since the jail is located near the Indo-Pak border, the authorities have shot off letters to the Police Commissioner, PAP and the Punjab Home Guards to enhance the security of the jail.
Teams of state police, Intelligence Bureau, BSF, Army, NSG and NIA are often seen tracing the route followed by terrorists on this stretch from where one section leads to about 8 km away to Bamial village on the Indo-Pak border and another to Kathua via Narot Jaimal Singh (about 6 km).
The Tribune team, in a bid to trace the series of events which led to the abduction of SP Salwinder Singh and his associates, travelled on the route. Amid zero visibility on the potholed road and scary surroundings of the 2,200-acre Raipur-Kathlore forest spread across Punjab and Jammu areas, our car was stopped by an ASI and his team of six.
They entered our names, phone numbers and vehicle registration number in a register. They allowed us to proceed only after authenticating our identity.
Only four days ago, a police team on this and at least three other such barriers let a Mahindra XUV pass without checking or making an entry in the register, thinking the vehicle belonged to a senior police official.
They even saluted the XUV occupants with no clue that the persons inside were terrorists and the SP was in their captivity.
At Kathlor bridge barrier, the same thing happened. The XUV zoomed past. “We were alerted by our colleagues on other nakas that SP Salwinder Singh was travelling on an SUV probably to check barriers at night,” said a head constable at the bridge naka, admitting he was so wrong.
The SP and his two companions were reportedly returning from Khwaja Peer shrine in Taloor on December 31 when they were abducted by the ultras.
Taxi driver Ikaagar Singh too was confronted by terrorists while he was on his way to Kohlian. Ikaagar was found dead near banks of the Ravi at Kohlian village.
At a third barrier in the middle of nowhere bright torch lights suddenly erupted with three policemen signalling us to stop. Once again they took time to verify our antecedents. They seemed over-suspicious. As one of the team members entered details in a register, more policemen appeared and insisted on checking the car’s boot again. “Our strategy is that only three persons remain visible to an approaching vehicle while another three-four remain out of sight to provide cover in case of any exigency,” a policeman said.
On learning about our destination, which was still about 8 km away from that point, the policemen advised us against going further, saying that the area was not only unsafe but finding the way would be difficult at midnight with no sign boards or anyone to ask for directions.
Despite having a local guide with us, we took a couple of wrong turns and had to retrace our steps. The terrorists, on the other hand, managed to find their way to the Air Force station in the dark.
Rs 25 lakh, job for martyrs’ kin
Gurdaspur: Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday announced a financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh and a government job each for the next of kin of Subedar Major Fateh Singh and Havildar Kulwant Singh, who were killed in the Pathankot attack. Interacting with the media during his Sangat Darshan in Qadian, the CM said it was a modest effort by the state to pay tributes to the brave hearts who had made the supreme sacrifice for the country. — TNS
Pak must act against rogue elements: Capt
Amritsar: State Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh said while the talks between India and Pakistan should continue, Pakistan must make it a point to initiate action against the rogue elements who have owned up the responsibility for attack on the Pathankot airbase. The Amritsar MP also said instead of putting the NSG in charge of the operations in Pathankot, it should have been handled by the Army. — TNS
Security up at Amritsar jail
Amritsar: The Amritsar Central Jail authorities have beefed up security on the premises as a number of hardcore convicts are lodged there. There are 74 foreign inmates. Of these, 13 are undertrials, 21 convicts and 40 interns. Since the jail is located near the Indo-Pak border, the authorities have shot off letters to the Police Commissioner, PAP and the Punjab Home Guards to enhance the security of the jail.
