Manhunt launched to nab key attacker Charat Singh, his two ‘unknown’ aides
Days after the Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) attack on the Punjab Police’s intelligence headquarters in Mohali, the State Director General of Police VK Bhawra on Friday claimed that Khalistani terrorist group — Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), and local gangsters were involved in the attack that was carried out on the behest of the Pakistan’s intelligence agency — Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Canada resident Lakhbir Singh alias Landa — a close associate of Pakistan-based Khalistani terrorist Harvinder Singh Rinda — has been identified as the main conspirator of the attack, said the DGP, adding that of six persons, including a woman, have been arrested for their involvement in planning and providing the local logistic support to the attackers for carrying out the attack.
The state police chief said that Landa allegedly carried out the RPG attack with the help of associates Nishan Singh and Charat Singh — both residents of Tarn Taran.
“Canada-based gangster Lakhbir Singh alias Landa has been emerged out as the key handler, who provided RPG, AK-47, and local network of criminals for logistic support to carry out the terror attack at Punjab Police Intelligence Headquarters in Mohali on Monday evening,” said the DGP while addressing the media at Punjab police headquarters at Chandigarh.
Thirty-three years old Landa, a native of Tarn Taran but having fled to Canada in 2017, is a close aide of Pakistan-based wanted gangster Harvinder Singh alias Rinda and had joined hands with Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). Rinda is close to BKI chief Wadhawa Singh and the ISI.
“Landa is based in Canada...He is still involved in making ransom calls to doctors, businessmen, singers, etc,” said DGP Bhawra.
DGP said that the Police have also arrested six persons for their involvement in planning and providing the local logistic support to the attackers for carrying out the attack.
The police has arrested Nishan Singh of Kulla village in Bhikhiwind of Tarn Taran district; Jagdeep Singh Kang of Wave Estate in Mohali’s Sector 85; Kanwarjit Singh alias Kanwar Bath of Gumtala in Amritsar; Baljinder Singh alias Rambo of Patti in Tarn Taran; Anant Deep Singh alias Sonu of Amritsar’s Guru Nanak Colony; and Baljit Kaur alias Sukhi of Kot Khalsa in Amritsar.
Two cars, including SUV Toyota Fortuner and Hatchback Maruti Swift, have also been recovered from their possession. Earlier, the sleeve of the RPG was also recovered.
Pertinently, Nishan was arrested by the Faridkot police on May 11, 2022, in Arms Act case and he is on police remand till May 16, 2022.
Accompanied by ADGP Internal Security RN Dhoke and Mohali SSP Vivek Sheel Soni, DGP said that as per his “assessment”, the attack was more to give a signal as the time was chosen when all the officers had left the building.
With the police yet to identify the two of the three attackers, Bhawra said: “Foot soldiers are being arranged by the gangsters.”
Giving details of the modus operandi, DGP said that Landa took the help of Nishan Singh and his other accomplice, identified as Charat Singh of Khem Karan, for carrying out the RPG attack at the Intelligence headquarters. Being a local resident, Mohali’s Jagdeep helped Charat in conducting reccee of the Intelligence Office on Monday morning. In the evening, Charat and his two aides, who are yet to be identified, had carried out the attack at the Intelligence headquarters at about 7.42 pm, he said.
“Initially, Charat had provided hideouts to two attackers and later, he handed over them to Nishan, who had arranged their stay at residence of Kanwarjit Bath and Baljit Kaur in Amritsar from April 27 to May 7. Also, Nishan had retrieved the RPG from the earmarked location on Kulla-Patti road on the directions of Landa,” he said adding that the RPG which was of Russian or Bulgarian origin.
DGP said that Baljinder Rambo, who was arrested in the NDPS cases and is a drug addict, had delivered the consignment of AK-47 to Charat and his two aides on the directions of Nishan. Anant Deep is a brother-in-law of Nishan and used to assist in providing logistic support, he said.
DGP Bhawra said that the Punjab Police have been on manhunt to arrest Charat, who is serving life sentence in a murder case and is currently out on parole, and his two accomplices. “Soon, the trio attackers will be arrested,” he said.
He informed that the Police have also brought Mohd Nasim Alam and Mohd Sharaf Raj — both residents of Auraiya district in Bihar — for questioning from Noida as they were found to be in touch with two unknown attackers.
Meanwhile, the police had already registered an FIR, dated May 9, 2022, under section 307 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Explosive Substance Act at Police Station Sohana in SAS Nagar.
