The Congress on Tuesday asked if Davinder Singh, the police officer arrested with terrorists in Kashmir last week, was a pawn working for somebody higher up in the government and whether he had any connection to the Pulwama attack that left 42 CRPF jawans dead before the 2019 general election.

Without making any direct allegations, Congress communications chief Randeep Surjewala fired a volley of questions that he said “the home minister and the Prime Minister need to answer”.

“Is there a larger conspiracy? At whose instance was Davinder Singh acting and bringing terrorists to Delhi? Are any people in the higher echelons of power involved with him? Is he only a pawn or a carrier in the larger conspiracy?” Surjewala asked.

Davinder, a deputy superintendent of police, was arrested in Kashmir on Saturday with two Hizbul Mujahideen militants whom he is alleged to have been trying to ferry to Delhi.

Surjewala continued: “Who is Davinder Singh? What is his connection to Hizbul and other J&K terrorists? For how long has he been acting as a conduit for J&K terrorists? What is his connection, if at all, to the 2001 Parliament attack?”

Afzal Guru, executed for the Parliament attack, had named Davinder and alleged that he had a role in the attack. On Tuesday, former Jammu and Kashmir DGP Kuldeep Khoda said Afzal’s claim needed to be investigated afresh.

Surjewala asked: “What is Davinder Singh’s connection to the Pulwama attack, where over 42 jawans lost their lives where he was DSP?

“Reports said Davinder was bringing two terrorists and one conduit in his car to Delhi. The police and the government now say he was doing this for Rs 12 lakh. I find the story preposterous.”

Arguing that the officer could not have been working alone, Surjewala said: “What is this conspiracy to attack the January 26 function? Who is the mastermind of this conspiracy? The home minister should get the whole gamut of this episode investigated and find out whether there was a larger threat to national security? Is somebody connected with national security linked to him?”

In response to a question about the Pulwama attack, Surjewala said: “We had asked at that time where did the RDX come from. How could terrorists get so much RDX amidst high security? How did the car breach the army convoy? Davinder was the DSP in Pulwama at that time. There is need for a thorough investigation to find out whether Davinder was linked to this attack. This should also be probed whether somebody sitting in the government is linked to these conspiracies.”

Demanding a statement from the Prime Minister or the home minister, the Congress spokesperson said: “We are not making any allegations but issues related to national security must be investigated seriously. The nation should know whether Davinder is a pawn or the mastermind. He was given a police medal and was allowed to receive envoys. Suddenly, the police say he was harbouring terrorists and taking money from them. The entire story creates suspicion. A thorough investigation of his activities and linkages is called for.”