Punjab Police have arrested Rohan Masih, the main suspect in the grenade blast that targeted a house in Sector 10, Chandigarh, on September 11. The arrest was made in Amritsar, where Masih was apprehended along with a 9mm Glock pistol and ammunition. The Punjab Police Director General, Gaurav Yadav, confirmed the arrest and stated that the investigation is ongoing, with further collaboration from the Chandigarh Police.
On the evening of September 11, a grenade was hurled at a residence in Chandigarh’s upscale Sector 10. The blast, aimed at retired Superintendent of Police Jaskirat Singh Chahal, occurred at a property owned by 100-year-old KK Malhotra. Malhotra and his wife were unharmed, having been inside the house just before the explosion.
Suspect and Investigation
Rohan Masih, a carpenter from Passia village in Amritsar, has confessed to his role in the attack. He, along with another suspect, allegedly planned the assault as part of a larger conspiracy. The Punjab DGP revealed that Masih and his accomplice had been employed in Jammu and Kashmir and were linked to Khalistani terror elements.
Khalistani Terror Links
The attack was claimed by a social media post under the alias of US-based Khalistani gangster Harpreet Singh, also known as Happy Passia. The post indicated that the blast was retribution against Chahal for his role in the 1986 Nakodar police firing, which resulted in the death of Sikh activists during a protest against the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib.
Historical Context and Further Plotting
Retired SP Chahal had been a target since the 1986 incident and had previously been under surveillance by extremist groups. The Punjab-based Babbar Khalsa International and its leader, Harwinder Singh Rinda, were implicated in plotting the attack. In 2023, a similar assassination plot against Chahal was uncovered, and arrests were made in connection with that attempt.
Previous Attempts and Police Action
Last year, a terror module backed by Rinda was involved in a failed attempt to kill Chahal. This group had also been linked to the RPG attack on the Punjab Police intelligence headquarters in Mohali in May 2022. During their operation, police recovered firearms and ammunition, further highlighting the group’s intentions and capabilities.
The Punjab Police and Chandigarh authorities are continuing their investigation to dismantle the terror network responsible for these attacks and ensure justice for the victims.
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