NIA takes over probe into arrested J-K cop Davinder Singh

The NIA will now probe the case involving J-K cop Davinder Singh. During his interrogation, Singh, however, maintained that he had no link to Hizbul militants and that he was taking the terrorists to surrender but interrogators have dismissed his claims.

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency on Tuesday took over the probe in the case of Jammu and Kashmir Police's Deputy Superintendent Davinder Singh, who was arrested on January 11 for transporting two top Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists.

The Ministry of Home Affairs approved the transfer to the NIA, following the revelations made by Singh during his interrogation to a joint team of the NIA, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the Intelligence Bureau (IB), and Jammu and Kashmir Police's CID.

Read: J-K police denies Davinder Singh was awarded by Home Ministry

The NIA can now interrogate Singh thoroughly to find out the real motive of the terrorists and his links to Hizbul Mujahideen and other terrorist organisations during their previous operations in the Valley.

On January 11, Jammu and Kashmir Police intercepted a car at Mir Bazaar before the Jawahar tunnel in Kulgam district and found Singh was travelling to Jammu along with two top Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists - Naveed Babu and Asif Ahmad -- and lawyer Rafi Ahmad.

The police had intercepted the vehicle while tracking the movements and location of Babu, a former Special Police Officer, when he made a phone call to his brother.

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Babu is accused of being involved in the killing of 11 people from outside Kashmir, including truck drivers and labourers in south Kashmir in October and November last year, and forcing a shutdown in south Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5 last year. All were arrested and a case initially lodged at Qazigund police station in Kulgam.

During his interrogation, Singh, however, maintained that he had no any link to Hizbul militants and that he was taking the terrorists to surrender but interrogators have dismissed his claims.

As per sources, a sum of Rs 12 lakh may have been given to Singh to move out the two Hizbul militants to Jammu on their way to Chandigarh and onward to Delhi to carry out attacks on or before the Republic Day.