7 months on, NIA probe into Batala RPG attack remains ongoing, 11 absconders untraced

Almost seven months after a rocket‑propelled grenade (RPG) attack on the Qila Lal Singh police station in Punjab’s Batala district on 6 April this year, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is still probing the role of the 11 absconding accused in the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI)‑propagated incident. Sources say that, as of now, no Blue or Red Corner notice has been issued against the absconders.

Foreign‑based handlers of the proscribed BKI terrorist organisation — namely Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia, Mannu Agwan and Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi Navasherian — had publicly claimed responsibility for the attack and are among the 11 absconding accused. Investigators told us that the probe against those 11, including Passia and the others named above, is ongoing and that either a Blue or a Red Corner notice is yet to be issued.

On October 4, NIA charge-sheeted another set of 11 accused in connection with the terror attack on a police station in Punjab that was orchestrated by a banned Khalistani outfit, officials said. These 11 arrested accused were charged under various provisions of the BNS, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Arms Act, and Explosive Substances Act. The chargesheet was filed before a special NIA court in Mohali, Punjab. The 11 arrested accused are Pawanpreet Singh alias Chiri, Balbir Kumar alias Varun alias Kala, Jatinder Singh, Rahul alias Bhayiya, Gomzi Kalyaan alias Gota, Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi, Ajaypal Singh, Vishal Ginda, Jobanjeet Singh alias Joban alias Billa, Akashdeen Singh and Karnbeer Singh.

The RPG attack on the Qila Lal Singh police station in Batala was executed by BKI members with active support from foreign‑based operatives, with the intent to spread terror and promote the agenda of anti‑India groups, NIA sources said. Investigations by NIA, which took over the case from the state police in May, revealed that the conspiracy was directed by foreign‑based terror operatives who exploited family ties and other vulnerabilities. They used social‑media platforms to radicalise and recruit vulnerable youth from Punjab to unleash terrorism against India, the probe agency added.