Mohali RPG Blast- Punjab Police Intelligence Department had receive two threat letters warning attacks from terrorist group JeM
New Delhi, May 10
The brazen attack of a rocket propelled gun (RPG) at the state intelligence wing of the Punjab Police in Mohali is suspected to be a terror attack especially after two threat letters were sent to the police warning of the blasts.
The intelligence wing of Punjab Police had received two threat letters from a commander of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad threatening of terror attack on railway stations, bridges, places of worship and other major installations and on VIPs in Punjab.
The Punjab Police was immediately alerted and security was beefed up at majority of public places, market areas, religious sites and important establishments in the state.
The letter was audaciously sent to intelligence wing of the Punjab Police, which is responsible for internal security and threat assessment in Punjab.
DGP Punjab VK Bhawra said, ‘The Punjab Police is probing the case at a high level. Several teams have been formed to get to the bottom of the case and the culprits would be arrested soon”.
It is to be also noted that Punjab has been reporting cases of IED and RDX seizures in last few months. The incident came weeks after an explosive device was found in Chandigarh’s Burail jail on April 24.
The blast took place at around 7.45 pm on May 9. However, no casualties or injuries were reported. It was rocket type of firing attack that left the window panes of the building shattered while the building bore the maximum impact but was safe.
A senior officer said, “The blast was carried out to warn and or challenge Punjab Police after a series of arrests of terrorists recently by the teams. The letter of JeM is also being probed from all the angles starting with the authenticity of the same. The blast site is being inspected and evidences have been sent for a detailed forensic analysis”.
The Mohali Police stated in a statement that a minor explosion was reported at the Punjab Police Intelligence Headquarters in Sector 77, SAS Nagar at around 7.45 PM. No damage has been reported. Senior officers are on the spot and an investigation is being done. Forensic teams have been called.
The initial probe showed that a white colour Maruti Swift car was spotted outside the state intelligence wing building few minutes before the attack from which the RPG was fired. The CCTV cameras in and around the area are being scanned for more footages and to ascertain the vehicle number and other details of the suspected car.
It is pertinent to note, few meters away from the state intelligence department building, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI) is located. The Army has meanwhile informed the Punjab Police that RPG is not used in this academy.
An RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) is a shoulder-fired missile weapon that launches rockets equipped with an explosive warhead. The security forces added that the RPG is mostly used by terror groups and have been found to be extensively in Kashmir by terrorist forces.
Two days ago, the Tarn Tarn Police had arrested two persons- Baljinder Singh alias Bindu (22), a resident of village Gujjarpura in Ajnala, Amritsar; and Jagtar Singh alias Jagga (40) of village Khanowal of Ajnala, Amritsar and seized around 1.5 kg of RDX in Tarn Tarn district averting a major terror attack in Punjab.
The Anti-gangster Task Force of Punjab on April 25 had arrested a most wanted terrorist and an active member of the terrorist module Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), Charanjit Singh alias Patialavi, who had been evading arrest for the last 12 years using various identities and hideouts.
Patialavi was an active member of the BKI terrorist module busted by the Punjab Police in 2010 for its involvement in the Shingar Cinema Ludhiana bomb blasts in 2007 and other blasts at Kali Mata Mandir, Patiala and Ambala in 2010.
The AGTF had also arrested three aides Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar and of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi from Bathinda on May 2 giving a major challenge to the Goldy Brar gang that has been funding anti-social activities and gangism in Punjab.
Last month, clashes had erupted between two groups in Patiala when an anti-Khalistan rally was being taken out.
Calling the attack an act of disturbing peace in Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann took to Twitter and announced that those trying to disturb Punjab’s peace will not be spared.
The Punjab CM called a high-level meeting of the DGP VK Bhawra and other officials at his official residence to take stock of the situation.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, “Mohali blast is a cowardly act of those who want to disturb the peace of Punjab.” He asserted that the AAP government will not allow “those people’s wishes to be fulfilled”. He added, “Peace will be maintained under all circumstances with the cooperation of all the people of Punjab and the culprits will be punished severely”.
The Centre has directed National Investigation Agency (NIA) to look into the Mohali blast. The NIA has collected more information from the Punjab Police on the intelligence reports received recently.
