Chandigarh, April 8 — The grenade attack at BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia’s Jalandhar residence past midnight Monday is the 16th such strike in Punjab since September 2024, with Punjab Police now tracing a consistent pattern involving foreign-based gangsters and Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI.
Officials said they have developed “important leads” in the latest incident and are close to identifying the assailants. “This is part of a broader attempt by the ISI to destabilise Punjab through terror modules using gangsters and smugglers as conduits,” a senior officer said.
The grenades used — mostly Arges models — are suspected to have come from Pakistan’s old military stockpiles. These same explosives were once used in the 1993 Mumbai bombings and the 2001 Parliament attack. Some incidents have also involved RDX.
According to police records, six police chowkis and two check posts have been targeted since September 2024. In addition to police, political and civilian targets have recently emerged, including the April 8 attack on Kalia’s home and an earlier grenade strike on YouTuber Rozer Sandhu.
Investigators believe Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), led by Harvinder Singh Rinda, and Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF), headed by Ranjit Singh Neeta, are the key conspirators behind the attacks. Their networks reportedly draw support from gangsters like Happy Passia, Gopi Ghanshampuria, and Jeewan Fauji.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has also linked the Chandigarh Sector 10 grenade attack to this transnational network. Accused like Abhijot Singh and Rohan Masih were allegedly acting on directions from Rinda and Passia, officials said.
The attacks are marked by a high degree of coordination. “From fake number plates to encrypted communication apps, this is a well-oiled machine. These operatives lure local youths with promises of visas, cash, and weapons,” an officer said.
Political parties, including the BJP and Congress, have raised concerns about deteriorating law and order. “Criminals seem to be striking at will,” one leader remarked.
While police claim to have solved most of the cases, a few remain under investigation. Officials maintain that leads in the recent Jalandhar case point toward familiar terror networks.
