Four arrested for hurling petrol bombs at Shiv Sena leaders’ houses

In a joint operation, the Counter Intelligence Wing of the Punjab Police and the Ludhiana police have solved the petrol bomb incidents targeting Shiv Sena leaders with the arrest of four members of a module of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).

The module was being operated by foreign-based individuals Harjit Singh, alias Laddi, and Sabi, said Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Tuesday.

Those arrested were identified as Jaswinder Singh, alias Binder, of Boothgarh in Ludhiana; Ravinder Pal Singh (38), alias Ravi; Manish Sahid (30), alias Sanju; and Anil Kumar (27), alias Honey, all residents of Rahon in Nawanshahr. Police teams seized two mobile phones, besides impounding a motorcycle (PB 32 AC 3770) used to commit the crimes.

“The operation has successfully solved the petrol bomb incidents targeting Shiv Sena leaders, including the October 16, 2024, attack on Yogesh Bakshi’s residence and the recent November 2, 2024, incident at Harkirat Singh Khurana’s house in Model Town Extension, Ludhiana,” said DGP Gaurav Yadav in a post on his X handle.

The DGP said, “Foreign-based handler Harjit Singh, alias Laddi, is also wanted in the murder of Vikas Prabhakar at Nangal and carries a bounty of Rs 10 lakh as announced by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).”

Further investigations were on to establish backward and forward linkages in the case and more arrests were likely in the coming days, he added.

Sharing operation details, Commissioner of Police (CP) Kuldeep Singh Chahal said acting promptly in both cases, teams of the Ludhiana Commissionerate Police and the Counter Intelligence (CI) Wing were formed under the supervision of DCP (Investigation) Shubham Aggarwal.

The CI team was led by AIG Simratpal Singh Dhindsa, while ADCP (Investigation) Amandeep Singh Brar, ADCP (Zone-3) Ramandeep Singh Bhullar, ACP (Civil Lines, Ludhiana) Akarshi Jain and ACP (West Ludhiana) Gurdev Singh led other teams, he added.

He said the meticulous investigation led to the arrest of four members of the BKI module involved in executing both crimes.

The CP said the police teams also impounded the motorcycle used by suspects in both crimes. Suspects Anil, alias Honey, and Ravinder, alias Ravi, were present at the crime spots in both incidents, while arrested suspect Jaswinder, alias Binder, accompanied them in the Haibowal area, he said.