On late Monday night in Punjab’s Mohali, an explosive projectile was launched at the Punjab Police’s intelligence building resulting in a blast. Various reports indicate the explosive projective was a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). However, soon after an RPG was propelled into Punjab Police’s intelligence building, another blast was reported in the same city.
The RPG propelled into the intelligence headquarters.
Image Source: India Today
Various intelligence agencies had asked Punjab police to beef up security in VIP areas of the state following the receipt of two letters from a commander of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad.
While no casualties were reported, the Punjab Police were on high alert due to previous threats. On the same day, Punjab Police recovered an IEX equipped with RDX packed in a 2.5 kg metallic black box. The IEX was discovered in the Tarn Taran district’s Naushehra Pannuan village.
After the blast, CM Baghwant Mann chaired a meeting with several senior police officials, including state director general of Police VK Bhawra. Mr Mann stated that several people had been arrested and that more were being detained.
On Tuesday, the Punjab Police narrowed down the role of the gangster-turned-Khalistani terrorist Harvinder Singh Rinda. The police have stated that he is the mastermind behind the RPG attack on the intelligence building. While Rinda is the mastermind, more than 20 people were arrested in connection with it.
Harvinder Singh Rinda
Image Source News 18
On the complaint of Balkar Singh, the security in-charge at the Sohana police station, they had also registered a case against unknown persons under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act (UAPA) and the Explosives Act.
According to preliminary investigations, two people used a car to launch the grenade attack on the intelligence headquarters before fleeing to Haryana. Rinda, the mastermind who is being protected by Pakistani agencies, is involved in anti-India operations with a particular focus on Khalistan. Rinda has been using his links among gangsters to carry out terror activities in Punjab.
Punjab police had recently busted three terror modules linked with Rinda that had attacked the crime investigation agency (CIA) police station at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar and Kalma police station in Rupnagar.
The Punjab Police have arrested a man who provided logistical support to some of the suspects who fired the RPG on the intelligence headquarters. The suspect has been identified as Nishan Singh, a Tarn Taran resident, and is being questioned.
He is currently being charged under the Arms Act and faces five cases for the same in Tarn Taran. Moreover, he allegedly sheltered two other accused people in Amritsar for three days before the RPG attack. VK Bhawra, Director-General of Police, stated that they have a few leads and that the case will be solved soon.
References: NDTV, Hindustan Times and DNA India.
Featured image source: Outlook India
