CHANDIGARH, Oct 4 — The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a supplementary chargesheet against Abhijot Singh, alias Babba or Gopi, in connection with the Chandigarh Sector 10 grenade attack, officials said on Saturday. Singh, a Punjab resident, was arrested in April for his role in the attack, which was masterminded by foreign-based Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) operatives.
The grenade attack, targeting retired Punjab Police officer Jaskirat Singh Chahal, was part of a broader conspiracy aimed at spreading fear in society, the NIA said. The plot was orchestrated by Pakistan-based BKI terrorist Harwinder Singh, alias Rinda, in collusion with US-based gangster Happy Passia, who was responsible for recruitment, funding, and supplying weapons and explosives to India-based operatives.
Rinda and Passia, along with two arrested accused — Rohan Masih and Vishal Masih — were chargesheeted last March. The investigation later identified Abhijot Singh as a co-conspirator, leading to his arrest.
The probe revealed that Abhijot travelled to Armenia in December 2023, where he was recruited into Passia’s terror network by Shamsher Shera. Returning to India mid-last year, he conducted a reconnaissance of the target in July 2024 and, along with Rohan, attempted to kill the retired officer in August 2024. The attack was ultimately carried out by Rohan and Vishal in September 2024, with funding provided by foreign-based BKI handlers.
Police said the attack was aimed at Chahal, who had served as SHO in Nakodar in 1986 during a police firing that killed four Sikh protesters. Until the attack in 2024, Chahal had been living on rent on the first floor of a Sector 10 house belonging to retired Himachal Pradesh principal KK Malhotra.
The NIA continues to trace other accused and accomplices involved in providing logistical support and terror material to the operatives as part of the conspiracy.
