Even as the investigating agencies were yet to receive any formidable lead on the Central Reserve Police Force Group Centre attack in Rampur, the security forces are interrogating a CRPF jawan, a former Kashmir militant, for his alleged role in the attack.
Though officials are yet to confirm the questioning of the said jawan, who hails from Baramula in the Kashmir valley, sources maintained that the suspect jawan has been taken to Lucknow for intensive interrogation.
According to highly placed sources, the CRPF jawan, who was once a militant but surrendered in Kashmir and joined the Central Force, was on duty at the Control Room-2, which the terrorists attacked first and shot dead a security man.
As per the CRPF jawan's account of the incident, he was sleeping but could not justify his statement when he was shown marks of at least 16 bullets on the wall of the control room. He also could not provide a satisfactory explanation as to why he did not react after hearing the gunshots, in which one of his colleagues died.
Sources maintained that at present, there are 68 jawans and officers in the Rampur Group Centre hailing from the Kashmir valley, including eight jawans who have joined the force after leaving the various terrorist outfits.
Meanwhile, telephonic records and other details of the suspected CRPF jawan are being investigated by the security forces. The investigating agencies are also looking into links with terrorist groups of the Kashmir valley.
Meanwhile, inspector-general (CRPF) Karmveer Singh said the New Year bash at the Rampur CRPF Group Centre ended at 12:30 am. "There was no lapse in the security set up. The men killed or injured in the attack were not drunk," he added.
Meanwhile, sources said at least two people were detained for questioning in Rampur. A senior police official, who is part of the investigating team, told UNI that several people were being questioned. But he denied that anyone was detained or arrested so far.
''Questioning is a part of the investigation process,'' he added.
Condemning the fidayeen attack, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati has blamed paramilitary forces for the incident. "Despite several alerts by the intelligence agencies and the UP government, the CRPF did not make suitable arrangements to fend off such an attack," she lamented. "They should have been more careful following the threat perception," Mayawati added.