Sec 10 blast: Foreign-based terrorists named in chargesheet

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet in the Sector 10 grenade attack case in the NIA Court here today.

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The charge sheet has been filed against US-based gangster-turned-terrorist Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia; Pakistan-based terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda and two other accused who carried out the attack allegedly on the direction of the foreign-based terrorists.

The other accused named in the chargesheet include Rohan Masih and Vishal Masih.

The NIA has not charged Kuldeep Kumar, an auto driver, Amarjit Singh and Akashdeep Singh in the case. On September 11 last year, a grenade was hurled at a house in Sector 10-D. Initially, the UT police carried out the investigation and later transferred the case to the NIA.

The police had arrested five accused in connection with the case, including an auto driver Kuldeep Kumar, who ferried the accused to the Sector 10-D house. The NIA investigation focused on the wider angle of the conspiracy. Rohan Masih and Vishal allegedly hurled a hand grenade in courtyard of the house at the behest of Harpreet and Rinda. They carried out a recce of the area before the attack. After the attack, Harpreet allegedly claimed responsibility for the explosion, targeting a retired Punjab Police official.

Police officials said the retired official had been on militants’ radar for many years. The police arrested the assailants with the help of the CCTV camera footage.

The owner of the house, a retired principal, and his wife had a narrow escape in the attack. They were sitting in the verandah minutes before the attack.

The accused have been chargesheeted for the offences punishable under 13, 16 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967, 109, 351 (2) 333 and 61 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita and 3, 4, 5, 6 of Explosive Substance Act 1908. The court has adjourned the hearing of the case for April 15.