(This story originally appeared in on Jan 09, 2016)

CHANDIGARH: Central intelligence agencies have detained at least two serving Air Force personnel at the Pathankot airbase as part of the investigation to find out if the terrorists who struck on January 2 had any local support.The two men were detained on Thursday after call records showed that they had been in touch with Ranjith KK, the sacked airman who was arrested from Bathinda on charges of spying for ISI. Ranjith was arrested on December 28, just days before the attack. TOI was the first to report that he had visited Pathankot recently and shared the details with his Pakistani handler.Intelligence officials said based on Ranjith’s call records, they had been monitoring the two airmen before the attack on Pathankot. They decided to detain the two after the six Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists were killed by defence forces.Investigators have also found that both the men were using two mobile SIM cards. Their call records will now be thoroughly examined to find out who they were in touch with. Officials, however, refused to confirm if the two had in any way provided support to the attackers. They insisted that a clearer picture would emerge only after they were thoroughly questioned.Security agencies have been examining the possibility of the terrorists having some logistical support within India given the ease with which they entered the airbase with a substantial amount of arms and ammunition. There is also a suspicion that they knew the general layout of the strategically important base.During questioning by multiple agencies, Ranjith had said he had some information on the possibility of the Pathankot airbase being targeted by terrorists. Sources confirmed that the airbase figured in the discussions between him and his Pakistani handler. Indian security agencies were apparently taken off-guard when the airbase was attacked as they didn’t expect the terrorists to act so quickly.Ranjith was arrested in a joint operation of Delhi Police, military intelligence and Air Force liaison unit. He was honey-trapped into passing on information on recent IAF exercises, movement of aircraft and their deployment.