Body tissues of Pathankot terrorists preserved, weapons seized

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), probing the Pathankot air base terrorist attack, has preserved body tissues of the slain terrorists for DNA sampling.

The post-mortem examination of the bodies was conducted at Pathankot civil hospital on Wednesday and the body tissues of the killed terrorists were preserved for DNA sampling, said an official statement issued here.

"During investigations, DNA samples have been collected from the vehicles used by the terrorists and the same are being sent for forensic examination. Footprints suspected to be of the terrorists have been lifted by forensic experts from Bamihal village in the border area and from within the air force station and have been sent to Central Forensic Science Lab (CFSL) for examination," the home ministry statement added.

All the arms and ammunition used by the terrorists in the Pathankot airbase attack have been seized. These include AK series rifles, pistols, grenades and assorted ammunition.

Other articles, including food articles and medicines, found on the bodies of the terrorists and from the crime scene and suspected to belong to the terrorists have also been seized.

Meanwhile, Gurdaspur Superintendent of Police Salwinder Singh has been summoned to NIA headquarters on Monday for questioning as part of the investigation into the Pathankot air base terrorist attack.

He was allegedly abducted while riding a personal vehicle, hijacked and later used by the terrorists on the night of December 31, 2015.

Four NIA teams are camping in districts of Punjab to verify the facts and examine witnesses in cooperation with Punjab Police.

The Pathankot air base came under terrorist attack in the early hours of January 2. India lost seven security personnel while all six terrorists were killed.