'Babbar Khalsa' claims responsibility for Chandigarh Sector 10 grenade Attack on social media post; probe underway
Chandigarh grenade attack: Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) has reportedly claimed responsibility for the recent grenade attack on a house in the posh Sector 10 area of Chandigarh. A post uploaded on a social media account named Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia, also referenced the 1986 Nakodar incident, stating that the attack was in memory of those who were killed during that time.
The post, which has gone viral on social media, reads, "This blast is in remembrance of those who were martyred in 1986." The post also included images of the individuals referred to as martyrs in the message.
In connection with the case, a video has surfaced showing two suspects near Sector 43 bus stand. The Chandigarh Police have launched a search for the suspects seen in the footage.
Earlier, the police arrested the driver of the auto-rickshaw used by the attackers. However, during the investigation, no direct involvement of the driver was found. The police continue to explore various angles in the investigation. The police said multiple agencies were working on the case from different perspectives.
The attackers had rented the auto from near Sector 43. When the grenade was thrown, the driver fled the scene in fear, but his involvement in the attack has been ruled out. Search operations are underway across multiple states, including Punjab, to trace the attackers.
Teams from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) have revisited the crime scene, which has been sealed off. The area surrounding the house has been barricaded, and police teams have been searching neighbouring houses for evidence.
A significant breakthrough in the investigation came when the police recovered the safety lever of the hand grenade thrown at the house. The lever has been sent for forensic examination, which will help determine where the grenade was manufactured.
Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia, who is believed to be involved in the attack, was earlier linked to criminal activities. In October 2023, the Punjab Police’s State Special Operations Cell registered a case against Harpreet Singh, who is currently residing in the USA, along with two accomplices, Bikramjit Singh and Bawa Singh. Harpreet Passia is known to be associated with Pakistan-based terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda.
Last year, Pasia reportedly contracted a hit to assassinate a retired police officer in Chandigarh. He is suspected of attempting to create an atmosphere of fear in the region. The police had recovered weapons from the individuals involved in that plot, and several charges, including under the Arms Act, were filed against them.
The grenade attack took place on the evening of Wednesday at the residence of KK Malhotra, a retired principal from Himachal Pradesh. At the time of the attack, the family was sitting in the verandah, and Malhotra was reading a book. He had just gone inside when the grenade was thrown, causing a blast in the park of the house, leaving an 8-inch deep crater. Windows and flowerpots in the park were shattered, along with the windows of several neighbouring houses.
Before the Malhotra family moved in, the house was occupied by a retired SSP of the Punjab Police, Harkirat Singh. This connection has led police to investigate both gangster and terrorist angles.
The Chandigarh Police have released CCTV images of two suspects and announced a reward of Rs 2 lakh for any information leading to the identification or arrest of the attackers.
The investigation has also led police to revisit an FIR registered in 2023 by the State Special Operations Cell of Punjab. In that case, two accused had revealed during questioning that Harwinder Singh Rinda had sent them to reconnoiter the same house a few years ago. Information from that case has been shared with the Chandigarh Police to assist in the current investigation.
- With inputs from our correspondent
