J&K cops quiz Davinder Singh; NIA to take over soon; a militant killed

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir police chief Dilbag Singh has said that he had recommended sacking of DSP Davinder Singh, arrested along with Hizb-ul Mujahideen commander Syed Naveed and two associates on January 10. Addressing a news conference in Jammu on Wednesday, the police chief said that his department also recommended that the medal Davinder Singh received from the state government for resisting an attack on Pulwama police lines should be taken back.
“He is under suspension and we have recommended his termination from services,” Dilbag Singh told reporters in Jammu. A joint team of J&K police officers and other agencies are interrogating Davinder Singh at Kulgam and have searched his residence and other properties in Kashmir and Jammu.

“Investigations would reveal the extent of his involvement. This was a major criminal act and he was dealt like the people he was arrested with. His involvements in other cases would also be scrutinised,” the J&K police chief said. Singh urged the media not to speculate on the case and promised that the police would not shy away from taking action if any other officer was involved or if there was a major nexus.

According to police officials, Davinder Singh was arrested on the highway to Jammu in southern Kashmir, along with Naveed, his associate Rafi and an alleged over- ground Hizb worker, Irfan.

Officers of the National Investigation Agency will arrive in Kashmir to take custody of Singh and fly him to Delhi for further interrogation and investigation.

Earlier, NIA director met Union home secretary AK Bhalla in Delhi and discussed Davinder’s case.

In a related development, the J&K Police killed Hizb militant Haroon Abbas Wani in Doda.