NRI crashes SUV into Attari gates, held

In a major security breach, an NRI crashed his SUV into the security gates at the Attari joint check post (JCP) early on Monday and reached the zero line at the international border between India and Pakistan.

Non-Resident Indian Surinder Singh Kang was taken into custody by Border Security Force (BSF) personnel after he rammed his sport utility vehicle into the first gate around 3.30 a.m. and then drove to the next gate, about 800 metres ahead towards the international border. He then crashed his vehicle into the second gate.

The vehicle stopped near the Pakistani gate at the border.

Kang was questioned by security agencies and later handed over to Indian police. The NRI was booked under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and other charges.

The NRI, aged around 50, holds Canadian citizenship and belongs to Nakodar area of Jalandhar district.

"All gates were closed at that time. It is a serious security breach that he managed to reach up to the zero line. The incident is being investigated," a BSF officer posted in the area told IANS.

Dawn online quoted Pakistani security sources as saying that Pakistan Rangers had written to the BSF authorities to seek an inquiry into the incident.

The report also quoted witnesses as saying that the gate at Attari on the Indian side was "badly damaged" due to the crash while the Wagah gate on Pakistan side was partially damaged.

The SUV was confiscated by Pakistani officials after it entered Pakistani territory, it said.

Another report, however, said that seized vehicle was later returned on the request of BSF authorites.

The Attari-Wagah JCP is located around 30 km from the Sikh holy city of Amritsar.