Centre accepts state’s plea to hand over Tarn Taran blast case to NIA
2 persons were killed, while one was injured in the blast on September 4
CHANDIGARH: The central government on Friday accepted the Capt Amarinder Singh-led Punjab government’s recommendation to hand over the September 4 Tarn Taran blast case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), keeping in view the likely links of the suspects with the Pakistan-backed Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).
Two persons were killed, while one was injured in the blast, which took place in a vacant plot on the outskirts of Pandori Gola village in the district when they were allegedly digging a pit to retrieve a dumped explosive consignment.
An FIR was registered under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code IPC and various sections of the Explosive Substances Act in connection with the powerful explosion that took place.
The Punjab Police had arrested eight members of a Pakistan-backed module, and their interrogations leading to a web of conspiracy and attacks, including an aborted attack on a high-value target in 2016.
Seven others, including the module leader and main conspirator Bikramjit Singh alias Granthi, who is believed to be in Austria, are still absconding.
A granthi and a follower of seminary Damdami Taksal, Bikramjit used to work as a ‘paathi’ in gurdwaras. Highly radicalised, he planned to target political dignitaries, socio-religious places, local rival politicians, Hindu leaders and Sikh preachers, with the help of local made crude bombs, police claimed.
An expert in making improvised explosive devices (IEDs), he also planned to attack police officials with bombs.
The other absconders were identified as Gurpreet Singh (now based in California, US), Gurwinder Singh alias Prince (also based in California), Sodhi Singh (presently residing in Armenia), Arwinder Singh alias Honey, Kuldeep Singh and Ranjit Singh alias Bablu, who escaped to the US a day after the attack on a liquor shop in Amritsar on May 3, 2016.
Those apprehended so far are Harjit Singh, Manpreet Singh Mann, Chandeep Singh Khalsa alias Gabbar Singh, Malkiat Singh alias Sher Singh alias Shera, Maandeep Singh alias Massa Singh, Amritpal Singh alias Amrit, Amarjit Singh alias Amar and Gurjant Singh (currently in hospital).
Investigations have revealed strong links of the module members with Pakistan and SFJ, according to police. Chandeep Singh alias Gabbar was to be in regular in touch with Pakistanbased Usman who had contacted him on Facebook in 2018.