Punjab Police on Saturday cracked the April 1 grenade attack outside the Bharatiya Janata Party’s state office in Chandigarh, announcing five arrests and the identification of two key suspects still being pursued, with the conspiracy traced to ISI-backed foreign handlers operating from Portugal and Germany.
The breakthrough came through a joint operation between the Counter Intelligence wing of Punjab Police and Chandigarh Police, which authorities said dismantled the network behind the blast describing it as part of a larger terror conspiracy with cross-border dimensions.
Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav confirmed that the investigation has established direct links to Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI, with foreign handlers coordinating the attack from European soil.
The five individuals arrested have been identified as Balvinder Lal alias Shami, Jasveer Singh alias Jassi, Charanjit Singh alias Channi, Rubal Chauhan, and Mandeep alias Abhijot Sharma. Multiple police teams are currently in pursuit of the two main perpetrators who physically carried out the attack and have since been identified.
“The Punjab Police’s counter-intelligence wing has achieved great success today, unmasking the conspiracy behind the bomb blast that took place in Chandigarh, Sector 37 on April 1. The perpetrators have been identified and there have been five arrests. Apart from the five arrests, two main perpetrators have been identified, and a police team is behind them,” DGP Yadav said.
He added that one grenade and several cartridges have been recovered, and that the entire conspiracy is connected to handlers based in Portugal and Germany.
Also Read: Bhainsaha Mela Tragedy: 60-Foot Swing Collapse Injures 30 In Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar
Investigators said the operation exposed a multi-layered module in which foreign-based handlers, backed by ISI, used multiple cutouts and submodules to execute and conceal the attack.
The April 1 incident occurred when two individuals arrived on a two-wheeler outside the BJP office in Sector 37 and hurled an improvised explosive device before fleeing the scene. No casualties were reported, though several vehicles were damaged and the explosion triggered panic in the surrounding area. Forensic teams subsequently recovered shrapnel from the blast site, while CCTV footage from nearby locations played a key role in advancing the investigation.
Hours after the attack, Khalistani terrorist Sukhjinder Singh Babbar claimed responsibility for the explosion, linking it to broader extremist motives.
Police said Saturday’s crackdown has “foiled an ISI-backed attempt to disturb peace in Punjab.” With the masterminds identified and operations continuing, authorities have signalled that the investigation will be taken “to the top” — indicating a sustained effort to dismantle the full network behind the attack.
-
-
-
-
