Pakistan-based terrorist suspected to be behind the Mohali blast
As the Punjab Police continues its probe into the attack on the intelligence unit headquarters in Mohali, the officials have recovered a rocket launcher from a site located around 1 km from the Intelligence Bureau building. The rocket-propelled grenade, or RPG, has been identified as RPG 22, and is Russian-made.
A rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) was fired at the Intelligence Wing headquarters of Punjab Police in Mohali on Monday, triggering a blast that shattered windows. The attack has sent alarm bells ringing as security forces suspect that it could be part of a bigger conspiracy against the border state of Punjab. Notably, Monday’s blast is the first of its kind attack in Punjab. Such grenades were previously used in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Punjab Police suspect that the RPG might have been sourced from Afghanistan, which first reached Pakistan and then was sent to Punjab. Punjab Police sources who had earlier mentioned that the RPG made its way via Jammu and Kashmir, hinted that the grenade along with the rocket launcher might have been air dropped at the border village, Tarn Taran.
The arrest of a 26-year-old suspect, identified as Nishan Singh from Bhickiwind village, is also being linked to the RPG device. Nishan Singh is believed to have received the consignment of RPG along with launcher through drones.
Nishan Singh has a criminal past and was lodged in the jail in the past. He is facing some cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and the Arms act.
The Punjab Police have also rounded up several suspects for questioning.
“A number of suspects have been rounded up and questioned. The launcher used in the attack has been recovered by the police and all leads developed in the case are being pursued meticulously,” a statement issued by the Mohali police said.
The police recovered a rocket launcher from a site located around 1 km from the Intelligence Bureau building. The rocket launcher was first spotted by a local, identified as Sabari Devi, who was grazing her buffaloes near the pit. The police and other agencies reached the spot and seized the rocket launcher.
The recovery of rocket launcher and the use of RPG in the attack demonstrated that the persons who had fired this grenade were well trained.
Speaking to India Today, Retired Colonel Dinesh Nain said that the RPG firing requires a constant training.
Sources also say that the brain behind this attack is Harvinder Singh Rinda who in the past had executed various terror plots in Punjab. Pakistan-based gangster-turned Khalistani terrorist Harvinder Singh Rinda is suspected to have hired criminals to carry out the attack.
Investigations in past terror attacks have revealed that Rinda has been hiring gangsters and petty criminals to carry out the attacks. Those arrested in the Nawanshahar CIA attacks and in Karnal last week have told that they were being paid between Rs 2 to Rs 3 lakh to execute a single terror plot or to transport a consignment of explosives.
Initial investigations show that the Mohali RPG attack has been masterminded by the Khalistani terror outfits under the directions of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Police suspect that attempts are being made to create a new terror group ‘Lashkar-e-Khalistan’.
Source: India Today
