Five Taran Tarn youth planned to throw grenade at Nakodar bakery

A day after the arrest of five youths along with live grenades and an illegal weapon from the Sidhwan Bet area by the Ludhiana rural police after exchange of fire, their questioning led to the startling disclosures about nefarious plans. As per police claims, they aimed to hurl a grenade at prominent bakery in Nakodar. The police suspect that the accused planned to target some place in Mehatpur and Sidhwan Bet.

Assistant Sub-Inspector Balwinder Singh, CIA, Jagraon, had fortunate escape as bullet grazed through his turban while one accused Amjid Masih had suffered bullet injury on his leg.

Dr Ankur Gupta, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Ludhiana rural, told The Tribune on Sunday that surprisingly the accused agreed to commit the task of throwing explosive at a designated place in Nakodar for just Rs 50,000. They were supposed to get the amount after executing the task. A man operating a Snapchat ID had reportedly given the task to the accused. Before sending them to the place for executing the task, Snapchat ID operator had reportedly also sent a man belonging to Mughal Chak village in Tarn Taran, who delivered live grenades to the accused.

Asked if the owner at whose bakery grenade was to be thrown was alerted, the SSP said the Nakodar police was alerted about the development. He said a person on target would also be called for investigation to inquire about his dispute if any with any person or any threat he received in the past.

About the involvement of any gangster or terrorist hiding abroad, the SSP said the identification of Snapchat ID operator would make it clear if the task was given from foreign land or from the country itself.

The arrested suspects were identified as Arjun Singh, alias Taj (18), Manpreet Singh (20), both residents of Mugal Chak Gill village, Tarn Taran; Amjid Masih, alias Benny (22), Sajan (18), both residents of Kakka Kandiala village, Tarn Taran; and Balraj Singh (22), a resident of Pandori Gola village, Tarn Taran.

Accused did recce in Nakodar three days ago

Inderjit Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Detective, Ludhiana rural, who is supervising the investigation, said accused Arjun was to throw grenade as per their plans. Three days ago, the accused had done a recce in Nakodar and yesterday they had to throw the grenade, but timely action by the Ludhiana rural police averted a major attack on bakery.

“Nabbed accused, who are of young age, are also drug addicts. They are suspected to be involved in drug peddling in the border areas. Balraj, who owns the Scorpio N, had been buying drugs from Arjun. Balraj’s father is a sarpanch of a village in Tarn Taran,” the DSP said. The accused were today produced in a court which sent them to eight-day police custody, the DSP said.