CM promises strict action; Oppn asks him to ‘set priorities’
CHANDIGARH/MOHALI: Punjab Police have zeroed in on the role of a Khalistani terrorist as the possible mastermind behind the explosion that rocked the headquarters of the force’s intelligence wing in Mohali on Monday, investigators said on Tuesday.
The investigators, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they were focussed on the role of gangster-turned-khalistani terrorist Harvinder Singh Rinda, who hails from Tarn Taran district and was wanted in at least 24 criminal cases in Punjab and Maharashtra, before he fled to Pakistan two years ago.
Senior police officials said preliminary probe suggested the attack was executed by members of a local gang active in Punjab and Haryana, at the behest of Rinda.
The explosion, believed to be the result of a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attack, rocked Mohali at 7.45pm on Monday. Though no one was injured, the blast in room number 41 on the third floor of the headquarters shattered the windows of the building.
DGP VK Bhawra, who visited the Punjab Police Intelligence headquarters on Tuesday, said the explosive used in the blast appeared to be Trinitrotoluene (TNT).
A pale yellow in colour in the solid-state, TNT is an essential component of many explosives.
At least 10 people have been detained in connection with Monday night’s blast, the DGP said, adding that teams probing the case got strong leads in the case and the team was hopeful of cracking the case soon. A massive hunt is on to nab those who facilitated in providing explosive and TNT to the attackers, an official said, requesting anonymity.
The probe points to local paid criminals hired for money to carry out the attack, said a senior official
privy with the developments. A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took samples of the explosive as well, according to an Ig-rank officer who did not wished to be named.
The CCTV footage collected by the probe team showed that two persons used a Swift Dzire car to launch the grenade attack on the intelligence headquarters and fled towards Haryana.
At least 10 police teams were sent to various locations in different states to nab the accused who assisted the assailants in providing the RPG.
A second senior official privy with the probe details said the attack was planned around 20 days ago. Forensic teams observed that the grenade could have done more damage if it had hit the windows directly.
Rinda, the gangster who is under the protection of Pakistan agencies in Lahore, is active in anti-india operations with a focus on Khalistan. He has been using his links among gangsters to carry out terror activities in Punjab, the second senior official said.
HT Correspondent
CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said that some people were arrested in connection with the explosion at the headquarters of Punjab Police’s intelligence wing in Mohali a day ago, even as the state police said at least 10 people were detained and no arrests were made.
Mann, who met director general of police (DGP) VK Bhawra and top officials of the intelligence wing, said the strictest punishment will be given to the guilty and warned that people trying to disturb peace will not be spared.
“I held a meeting with the DGP and officers of the intelligence wing in the wake of the incident. The details are coming out. Some arrests have been made,” he said.
The explosion, believed to be the result of a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attack, took place in Mohali at 7.45pm on Monday. Though no one was injured, the blast in room number 41 on the third floor of the headquarters – that houses the intelligence wing, the special task force against drugs, the anti-gangster task force and several other wings of state police –.shattered the windows of the building.
No one was injured in the explosion.
“I want to say that whosoever tries to spoil the atmosphere of Punjab will not be spared and they will get the strictest punishment which their coming generations will remember,” said Mann.
At least 10 people were detained but no arrests have been made so far, DGP Bhawra said. “But we have got fee vital leads and we are hopeful of cracking the case soon,” he said.
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, while extending full support and cooperation to the Punjab government, asked Mann to set his priorities right and focus on serious challenges confronting the state. “Inexperience and misplaced priorities of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government are being exploited by terrorists who seem to be raising their head in Punjab”, he said.
Warring said the onus was on the government to prevent such attacks and also identify and punish the culprits.
Describing the deteriorating law and order situation as “alarming”, leader of opposition in the Punjab assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, asked the chief minister to convene an all-party meeting on this issue .
BJP state general secretary Subhash Sharma called for coordinated efforts to defeat enemies of the nation, hoping that the AAP government will get down to face the serious terror challenges and focus its priorities from political vendetta to serious governance. “Mohali terror attack should come as a warning that you cannot take security of the state lightly and use your police to settle scores with your political opponents”, he said in a statement, referring to the turf war between the police forces of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi last week over the detention of BJP leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga.
GUWAHATI: The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) will soon be revoked from all of Assam, Union home minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday, adding that improved law and order and peace accords with militant outfits in the last six years have already led to the law’s partial withdrawal in the state.
The minister lauded the Bharatiya Janata Party (Bjp)-led government in Assam for ensuring peace and development in the state, besides achieving several milestones.
“Prior to BJP governments, Assam used to witness terrorism, strikes, bomb blasts and deaths. In the past six years, first under Sarbananda Sonowal and now with Himanta Biswa Sarma at helm, those incidents have been replaced with peace, development, health and education,” Shah said while addressing a public meeting in Guwahati on the completion of one year of the state government.
Shah also addressed a gathering after presenting the President’s Colour, a special flag, to the Assam Police. It is the highest honour to be given to any military or police unit in recognition of exceptional service rendered to the nation, both in peace and war.
Shah remarked that AFSPA, which was in operation across Assam since 1990, has been removed from nearly 60% area of the state due to the improved law and order situation. AFSPA accords special powers to armed forces, authorising security personnel to open fire, arrest people without warrants, enter and search without warrant — all while having immunity from being prosecuted.
“The AFSPA has been revoked from 23 districts, and partially from one district. I am confident that it will be completely withdrawn from the entire state soon,” Shah said.
The minister said accords were signed with all four factions of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) and militant outfits in Karbi Anglong.
“Due to the peace agreements signed with Bodo and Karbi terror outfits, over 9,000 ultras have laid down arms and joined the mainstream. They have helped in making Assam almost terrorism-free,” Shah said.
He also praised the state government for its effort to bring down illegal immigration from
Bangladesh. “…While we don’t get any support in West Bengal, the Assam government stands like a rock against illegal immigration.”
Shah also listed the accomplishments of Assam Police, who, he said, had a glorious history.
Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who was accompanying Shah, highlighted the achievements of the state government in the past year and committed to work together with coalition partners — Asom Gana Parishad and United Peoples Party Liberal — to turn Assam into one of the top five states in India.
“I would like to inform that our flagship scheme, Orunodoi, which now covers two million women across Assam, will soon include 600,000 more beneficiaries and the monthly sum of ₹1,000 given to these women will be increased to ₹1,250 from August 15,” he said.