NIA chargesheets 3 in Amritsar temple grenade attack case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against three men in connection with the grenade attack on the Thakurdwara Sanatan Temple in Chheharta, Amritsar, earlier this year, a senior agency official said here on Sunday.

In its chargesheet submitted before the Special NIA Court in Mohali, the agency named Vishal Gill alias Chuchi, Bhagwant Singh alias Manna Bhatti, and Diwan Singh alias Sunny for their roles in the conspiracy and execution of the March 15 attack.

Gill was identified as one of the two bike-borne assailants who lobbed the grenade in the early hours of March 15. His associate, Gursidak Singh alias Sidki, was killed in a police encounter two days later.

According to the official, the accused Bhagwant Singh provided shelter, concealed grenades, arranged motorcycles for reconnaissance, and extended logistic support both before and after the strike. Diwan Singh has been chargesheeted for harbouring co-accused and destroying evidence.

Another key accused, Sharanjeet Kumar, was arrested from Gaya, Bihar, on September 5.

"Investigations are ongoing against him and absconding accused Badalpreet Singh, who is believed to be abroad," the official said.

The agency said its probe has uncovered transfer of terror funds from foreign handlers to local operatives through UPI and MTSS channels.

The official further said that efforts are under way to track the money trail, identify absconders, and establish international linkages of the module, which investigators believe was part of a larger conspiracy to spread fear and incite communal disharmony in Punjab and beyond.