Police Claim Cross-Border Handler Behind Attack On Sangrur BJP Office

Punjab Police on Tuesday claimed to have solved the petrol bomb attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) district office in Sangrur within 24 hours, alleging that a foreign-based handler recruited two local men through social media to carry out the attack in exchange for money. Police said the accused were motivated by financial incentives and were in direct contact with a cross-border handler.

Speaking to NDTV, Sangrur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ravjot Grewal said the accused were promised a cash payment of ₹2,200 for executing the attack, but the amount was never transferred as they were arrested during the investigation. The SSP said police were working to identify the broader network and establish both forward and backward links connected to the case.

The two accused have been identified as Happy Singh alias Happy, a resident of Bhambri village in Longowal, and Jaspreet Singh alias Jassi from Lehragaga. Police said they recovered the motorcycle allegedly used during the incident along with the mobile phones of both accused. Investigators are examining digital evidence and communication records to gather further details.

Also Read: Gaurav Gogoi Criticises BJP Over Dharmendra Pradhan Amid Student Protest Row

According to the police investigation, the incident occurred around 2.35 am on July 26 when the accused allegedly approached the BJP office and threw a petrol bomb fitted with a fuse before escaping from the spot. Following a complaint by BJP district president Maninder Singh, a case was registered at Sangrur City-1 police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Explosive Substances Act.

A special investigation team led by SP (Investigation) Davinder Attri, along with DSPs and cyber intelligence teams, was formed to investigate the attack. Police said technical and intelligence inputs helped trace the accused, who were allegedly contacted through social media by an individual using the name “Rana Bhai” and were instructed to record and send a video of the incident after carrying out the attack.

Police are now investigating the identity of the alleged handler, examining social media accounts and financial links to determine whether the attack was part of a larger conspiracy. The incident marks the second reported attack targeting a BJP office in the region after a grenade attack on the party headquarters in Chandigarh in September 2024. Further investigation into the case is underway.

Also Read: BJP Calls Reports On Pradhan Exit After CJP Dispute Over Portfolio Change Baseless