NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has chargesheeted four terror operatives of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist organisation in the 2024 Chandigarh grenade attack case, officials said on Sunday.
As per a release by the NIA, the chargesheet filed before the Special NIA Court in Chandigarh includes Pakistan-based designated individual terrorist Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda, and US-based Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia.
The release notes that the two terrorists were the primary handlers and conspirators behind the attack. They had provided logistical support, terror funds, weapons, and ammunition to India based on-ground operatives in Chandigarh for executing the grenade attack.
As per the release, the September 2024 attack was intended to target a retired officer of the Punjab Police, who the assailants believed to be the occupant of the house.
“Investigations revealed that Rinda, along with Happy Passia, had orchestrated the conspiracy to strike terror among law enforcement officials and general public through the grenade attack, as part of the broader aim to promote BKI’s terrorist agenda. They had recruited local operatives, namely Rohan Masih and Vishal Masih, who were tasked with carrying out the attack under their direct instructions,” the agency said.
“Rinda and Happy directed the other accused, Rohan Masih and Vishal Masih, to conduct reconnaissance on the target twice before hurling the grenade, investigations revealed.
The release said, “In the chargesheeted filed before the Special NIA Court, Chandigarh in the case RC-15/2024/NIA/DLI, all four accused persons have been charged under multiple sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Explosive Substances Act, and other related provisions, for their roles in planning and supporting the attack.”
Investigations in the case are continuing and the NIA is trying to track down other members of the BKI terror group and dismantle its network in India.
Two motorcycle-borne masked men were captured on CCTV footage lobbing an object, suspected to be an explosive, at Thakurdwara Temple in Khandwala, Amritsar on the night of March 14.