Grenade Attack On Punjab BJP Leader's House: Prime Accused Nabbed, Says DGP

Chandigarh: Punjab police on Saturday claimed to have arrested with the support of Central agencies and Delhi police, one Uttar Pradesh (UP)-based man identified as Saidul Ameen, who it held, is the prime accused involved in the April 8 grenade attack at senior BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia’s residence in Jalandhar.

It may be recalled that an explosion occurred at the residence of the senior BJP leader located in Central Town Jalandhar in the wee hours of April 8 last. Though no one was injured, the blast damaged part of the entrance gate and shattered the window panes.

Police held that investigations revealed a larger conspiracy orchestrated by Pakistan's ISI to disrupt communal harmony in Punjab.

According to police, the development came close on the heels of the arrest of two local associates identified as Satish alias Kaka alias Lucky and Harry of Jalandhar. The plot was masterminded by Zeeshan Akhtar, a close associate of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and Pakistan-based ISI-sponsored gangster Shahzad Bhatti, while, role of Pakistan-based Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) is also being probed, the police said.

Briefing newspersons further, Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, Gaurav Yadav said that accused Saidul Ameen, a resident of Amroha in UP, was apprehended from Delhi after an intensive multi-state manhunt.

The DGP said that the ongoing probe has also revealed the financial link to the executors of the grenade attack under which the role of Haryana-based accused identified as Abhijot, who was arrested by the Haryana police on Friday after exchange of fire in Kurukshetra, has also come under the light. He would be brought here on a production warrant for further investigations, he said, adding that further investigations are on.