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Tarn Taran RPG attack: Police establish cross border link, 4 detained
The Punjab Police on Monday claimed to have identified the two youths involved in carrying out the Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) attack at the Sarhali police station in Tarn Taran last week. The police also said that the probe has pointed out that RPG was smuggled from Pakistan.
Chandigarh: The Punjab Police on Monday claimed to have identified the two youths involved in carrying out the Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) attack at the Sarhali police station in Tarn Taran last week. The police also said that the probe has pointed out that RPG was smuggled from Pakistan.
This is the second such attack in the state in the last seven months. On May 9 this year, a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) was fired at the Punjab Police’s intelligence headquarters located in Mohali.
“We have identified two attackers. Till now, four suspects have been detained, who provided logistical support for carrying out the attack. However, two accused who carried out the RPG attack have not been arrested yet,” said Sukhchain Singh Gill, Inspector General of Police (headquarters) while addressing the weekly press conference of Punjab Police.
According to Punjab Police officials dealing with the case, the two youths who hurled the RPG are local and don’t have a strong criminal background.
“Our probe has pointed out that the duo who hurled the RPG are local. They were lured by foreign-based gangsters and pro-Khalistani elements to carry out the attack in exchange of money,” an official said.
The rocket-propelled grenade was fired at the Sarhali police station in Tarn Taran on Friday night. The projectile first struck the iron grills of the gate of the police station and then hit the wall of the Saanjh Kendra.
“Two persons executed this act. Their identification process is on. I cannot disclose any names at this stage. Identification, detaining of suspects, and the process of further identification are on,” the IG said. Replying to a question, Gill said the security of all police buildings, including police stations, has been strengthened.
He said the investigation was being conducted under the supervision of additional director general of police (internal security) RN Dhoke while ADGP (counter-intelligence) Amit Prasad was camping in Amritsar. “Prima facie, police have got all the clues to this incident,” the IG said.
The police said the probe has pointed out that RPG was smuggled from Pakistan and was recovered by the suspects from a location shared on using calling facility mobile apps. Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, who had visited the site, had also said that it was military-grade hardware which was suspected to have been smuggled from across the border.
“There is a clear indication that it is a strategy of the neighbouring nation to bleed India by a thousand cuts,” the DGP had said.
An FIR under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act has been registered in connection with the incident. A senior police official involved in the probe said the police were very near to cracking the case.
In the Mohali RPG attack, the police have arrested 12 persons out of the total 13 accused till date. One accused Deepak from Jhajhar is absconding.
