Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): In a significant breakthrough for regional security, the Counter-Intelligence wing of the Punjab Police, alongside Chandigarh Police and the Haryana Police Special Task Force, apprehended the final two perpetrators behind the April 1 grenade attack targeting the BJP office in Sector 37. The suspects, identified as Gurtej Singh and Amanpreet Singh from Rupnagar, were tracked down and arrested in Rewari, Haryana. This successful operation concludes the dismantling of an ISI-backed terror module just days after the initial strike, with all seven individuals involved now in custody.
Investigations have revealed that the attack was orchestrated by foreign-based handlers, specifically Baljot Singh in Portugal and Harjeet Singh Laadi in Germany. These handlers reportedly promised the accused a reward of 2 lakh for executing the blast. According to Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav, Gurtej Singh had been in contact with these handlers via social media for several months. On the day of the incident, Amanpreet Singh allegedly hurled the explosive while Gurtej filmed the act to provide proof to their overseas superiors.
The swift resolution of this case is particularly noteworthy as Punjab prepares for upcoming assembly elections. Authorities believe the blast was a calculated attempt by Pakistan’s ISI to incite communal tension and destabilize the political landscape. The incident had previously sparked a heated political debate, with various parties trading accusations regarding law and order. However, the coordinated efforts between Punjab, Chandigarh, and Haryana law enforcement agencies have sent a strong message against cross-border terrorism.
Prior to these final arrests, five other members of the module were detained on Saturday, leading to the recovery of a live hand grenade and a sophisticated Zigana pistol. One of the primary suspects, Amanpreet Singh, was already known to police with a prior criminal record involving theft and snatching. The successful inter-agency collaboration has been praised for effectively neutralizing a sleeper cell that posed a direct threat to the safety and democratic integrity of the region.
