Mohali (Punjab): Mohali Police refused to rule out the terror angle in the minor explosion that took place outside the Punjab Police's intelligence office on Monday night. On being asked whether it can be considered a terrorist attack, Mohali SP (HQ) Ravinder Pal Singh told the media persons," It can't be ignored. We are investigating it." "It is a minor blast. The attack happened from outside the building. It has been done with rocket-type fire. No casualty or loss happened. Our senior officers and FSL team are investigating it," he added. According to sources, the blast may have occurred from a distance of 80 to 100 meters.
A blast had occurred outside the Intelligence Department building of Punjab Police in Mohali. "A minor explosion was reported at the Punjab Police Intelligence headquarters in sector 77, SAS Nagar at around 7:45 pm," Mohali police had said. According to police sources, a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) was thrown toward the third floor of the building leading to the windows getting shattered. No casualty was reported as most of the employees had left the office premises by then.
The area around the Intelligence Bureau office has now been sealed and an investigation is in progress. Bomb disposal and forensic squads have reached the spot. According to experts, it is the first time in India that RPG has been used. RPGs have a range of more than 700 meters. The use of RPGs is common in Afghanistan. However, it is yet to be ascertained which model of RPG was used.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann spoke to Director General of Police VK Bhawra and sought details about the incident. This attack came four days after the arrest of Pakistan-backed terrorists in Haryana's Karnal by the state police following inputs from the Punjab Police. Describing the arrest of four Pakistan's ISI-backed terrorists and preventing a major terror attack as a well-coordinated operation, Punjab Police on May 5 said they successfully averted a possible terrorist attack.
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However, police officials refuted claims of attempts by the ISI to revive terrorism in the state, saying such acts were part of its nefarious designs. The arrested accused were identified as Gurpreet Singh, Amandeep Singh and Parminder Singh, residents of Vinjoke village in Zira, Ferozepur; and Bhupinder Singh of Bhatian village in Ludhiana. Punjab police sources also revealed that around 11 people have been detained for questioning in the case. They are currently being questioned by Punjab Police and other intelligence agencies at an unknown location.
DGP Bhawra had told the media here that a Central agency earlier shared input that some suspects, who may be carrying explosive material and weapons are moving in the border districts of Fazilka and Ferozepur. During preliminary interrogation, the accused had revealed that they were working for Pakistan-based gangster-turned-terrorist Harwinder Singh, alias Rinda.
Rinda, a notorious gangster active in Punjab, Chandigarh, Maharashtra and Haryana, is a history-sheeter and is wanted by the Punjab Police in heinous crimes, including murder, contract killing, robbery, extortion and snatching. Also, this blast occurred almost a fortnight after the recovery of an explosive device near the high-profile Burail jail in Chandigarh.
What is an RPG?
RPG stands for a 'Rocket-Propelled Grenade' and is a shoulder-fired missile weapon that launches rockets equipped with an explosive warhead. Most RPGs can be carried by an individual soldier, and are frequently used as anti-tank weapons. These warheads are affixed to a rocket motor which propels the RPG towards the target and are generally loaded from the front.
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with Agency inputs
