Pathankot: Pak JIT records statements of witnesses

The Pakistani joint investigation team (JIT), probing the Pathankot terror strike, on Thursday completed the recording statements of the witnesses and were also handed over some more documents, which included DNA report of the four terrorists killed in the 80-hour gunbattle with security forces.

The JIT, headed by Additional Inspector General of Police, Counter Terrorism Department, Md Tahir Rai, began their day by recording the statements of witnesses in the case, NIA sources said.

They questioned 16 witnesses in all, including an SP-rank officer of Punjab Salwinder Singh, his jeweller friend Rajesh Verma and cook Madan Gopal. The three were kidnapped by the Pathankot attack perpetrators belonging to the banned Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1.

“Talks are at a conclusive stage and hopefully by tomorrow afternoon everything will be over,” Director General of NIA Sharad Kumar said here. Besides recording the statement of the three, the JIT also spoke to the caretaker of a shrine visited by Singh before he was kidnapped.