NIA searches house of accused, quiz his family

Ludhiana: A team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) reached Khanna early Wednesday morning for probe into Ludhiana courts complex bomb blast case and conducted a search at the house of the accused—deceased dismissed cop Gagandeep Singh. After the search, the NIA officials held a meeting with Khanna senior superintendent of police (SSP) J Elanchezhian at his office. On January 13, the NIA had taken over the inquiry into December 23, 2021, blast at the second floor of the courts complex.Khanna SSP J Elanchezhian said, “Around 6am Wednesday, the NIA officials sought security personnel as they reached Khanna for probe into Ludhiana courts complex bomb blast case. About 25 police personnel were provided to them.”The NIA team visited Gagandeep’s house in Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar around 7am, searched it and questioned his family about him and his bag of explosives.Gagandeep’s wife Jaspreet Kaur said, “The NIA team asked us about the bag of explosives that Gagandeep carried. I told them that that day Gagandeep had dropped me at a parlour, which is 200 metres from our house, before going to Ludhiana. He was already waiting for me outside the house on a two-wheeler and I did not notice if he was carrying a bag. After dropping me, he left without saying anything.”Woman cop reinstatedA senior woman constable, who was closely associated with Gagandeep and suspended by then Khanna SSP Amandeep Singh Brar under disciplinary action a few days after the blast, has been reinstated. SSP Elanchezihan said, “So far, her role has not been found in the blast case. Moreover, she was suspended on moral grounds because she had relations with the dismissed cop. She was reinstated a few days back and is posted at Khanna police lines.” Two days before the blast, she was seen with Gagandeep in a Khanna hotel, where they spent four hours together. The hotel CCTVs had captured Gagandeep carrying a bag, which reportedly had explosives.Gagandeep’s wife seeks helpGagandeep’s wife Jaspreet said, “I am not allowed to use my bank account as Gagandeep had made some transactions from it. My daughter has been promoted to Class II. For her school admission, books and uniform, I need money. Neither does his family support me nor others. Gagandeep was punished for what he did, but he has left behind our daughter and I to suffer. I had approached the Khanna police and have asked the NIA officials, too, to help me use my bank account. Earlier, the NIA officials had also seized the money I saved. I need help to feed and educate my daughter,” she added.