NIA chargesheets 11 accused in terror attack on police station in Punjab

 

 

 

THE National Investigation Agency (NIA) has chargesheeted 11 accused in connection with the terror attack on a police station in Punjab that was orchestrated by a banned Khalistani outfit, officials said. The arrested accused have been charged on Saturday under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Arms Act, and Explosive Substances Act.

 

The chargesheet was filed before an special NIA court in Mohali, Punjab, an official statement said. Another 11 accused identified in the case are absconding. Foreign-based handlers of the proscribed terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) -- Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia, Mannu Agwan and Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi Navasherian -- had publicly claimed responsibility for the attack, which took place on April 6 this year, the statement said.

 

The rocket propelled grenade (RPG) attack on the Qila Lal Singh police station in Batala district was executed by BKI members, with active support from foreign-based operatives, with the intent to spread terror and promote the agenda of anti-India groups, it said. Investigations by the NIA, which took over the case from the State police in May, revealed that the conspiracy was directed by foreign-based terror operatives, who exploited family ties and other vulnerabilities. They used social media platforms to radicalise and recruit vulnerable youth from Punjab to unleash terrorism against India, the probe agency said. The NIA is continuing to investigate the case in an effort to nab the absconders and any other unidentified conspirators involved in the attack, it added.

 

 

 

THE National Investigation Agency (NIA) has chargesheeted four people, including Khalistani operatives, for their alleged involvement in carrying out a grenade attack at former Punjab minister Manoranjan Kalia’s house in Jalandhar, officials said. The chargesheet filed in a Chandigarh court on Saturday named two arrested accused -- Saidul Ameen of Amroha in Uttar Pradesh and Abhijot Jangra of Kurukshetra in Haryana -- and two absconders identified as Kulbir Singh Sidhu of Yamunanagar and Manish alias Kaka Rana of Karnal, both in Haryana, they said. The attack on the premises of the former minister and BJP leader was carried out on the night of April 7, 2025. The NIA took over the probe a few days later, on April 12. Sidhu, an operative of the proscribed terrorist organisation Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), along with his associate Manish, formed a terror gang to target prominent leaders of Punjab to create a climate of fear among the people and raise funds for the BKI through extortion, a Statement issued by the NIA said. Manish had subsequently recruited Ameen, who had hurled the grenade at the former minister’s house, it said. The grenade was supplied to Ameen by Sidhu, while Jangra provided the funds, the probe agency said. Sidhu had circulated a poster after the attack, claiming responsibility for hatching the conspiracy along with Manish, it said. A red corner notice has been issued against Sidhu, who is also carrying a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his arrest. The NIA had earlier chargesheeted Sidhu in a case related to the targeted killing of Punjab-based VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) leader Vikas Prabhakar in April 2024. The anti-terror agency has intensified its efforts to track and arrest the absconders and identify other members of BKI operating in India, the statement said.