Rohan Umak
BJP Chandigarh blast news: Punjab Police on Saturday achieved a major breakthrough, as they arrested five persons in connection with the grenade blast case, which took place outside the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in Chandigarh a few days ago.
As per police, the arrested individuals are a part of a terror module linked to Pakistan spy agency ISI. Punjab’s Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said that a joint team led by the counter-intelligence wing of Punjab Police and Chandigarh Police led the operation. He added that two key perpetrators involved in the attack have also been identified, and efforts are on to nab other accused, who are at large.
Cops recover grenade, suspect wider network
The police said they have seized one grenade and additional explosive material during the operation. Police’s preliminary findings suggest the involvement of Pakistan’s Intelligence Agency ISI, with foreign-based handlers operating from Europe. Officials added that operatives linked to the module were being directed by handlers based in Germany and Portugal, using multiple’ cutouts’ and sub-modules to execute the attack and evade detection.
BJP Chandigarh blast news: No casualties reported
Notably, the explosion took place at around 5 pm near the BJP office located in Chandigarh’s Sector 37. The police confirmed that no casualties were reported in the incident, although the incident sent a wave of panic through the area. The cops described the device used as a crude explosive, which was hurled towards the premises by unidentified assailants.
Video footage being examined
The investigating police personnel are currently examining an unverified video making rounds on social media, which shows a man pulling the pin from a grenade and hurling it, while another person records the act. In the video, the suspects were seen fleeing moments before the grenade exploded. CCTV footage from the vicinity has also captured the persons running across the road immediately after the blast, aiding the identification process.
Terror angle being probed too
In a parallel development pertaining to the case, a social media post attributed to the banned outfit, Babbar Khalsa International, has claimed responsibility for the attack. According to officials, the authenticity of the claim is being verified.
DGP Yadav said that swift action by the police foiled a larger terror conspiracy aimed at disrupting peace and communal harmony in the city.
