The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday carried out searches at multiple locations linked with the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) in several northern regions in the Chandigarh grenade attack case.NIA teams searched various locations connected with the banned terror outfit in the states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and the UT of Chandigarh.
The searches were conducted at the premises of suspects linked to US-based terrorist Harpreet Singh @ Happy Passian in Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Bathinda and Ferozepur districts of Punjab, Lakhimpur Kheri district in U.P., Rudrapur district in Uttarakhand, and in UT Chandigarh.Incriminating materials including mobiles/digital devices and documents were seized during the searches.
The case RC-15/2024/NIA/DLI, registered on the directions of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India, relates to hurling of a hand grenade at a house in sector 10/D, Chandigarh on 9th September, 2024 by arrested accused Rohan Masih and Vishal Masih. NIA investigations so far in the case have exposed a conspiracy of Pakistan based Harwinder Singh Sandhu @ Rinda and US based Harpreet Singh @ Happy Passian, both terrorists belonging to BKI, to attack a retired police officer.
The two terrorists had raised a module to carry out the terror attack and had provided funds, weapons and other logistical support to the on-ground operatives.
The conspiracy involved recruitment of India based associates by foreign based main accused and handlers for carrying out criminal terror acts, providing funds for such terror acts, smuggling of terror hardware into India, and movement of terror hardware through dead drop model. Further investigations in the case are continuing.
