Months after a low-intensity car bomb blast was reported outside the Baldev Nagar police station on NH-44 in Ambala, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) established that the IED used for the blast was triggered using a Nokia phone made in Pakistan.
The revelations were made by the NIA in its chargesheet, which was filed before a special court in Panchkula last month. HT has accessed a portion of the chargesheet. After the blast, a team of the bomb disposal squad, in assistance with the Ambala police, recovered three LPG cylinders, each weighing three kilograms, from the site, which is just five kilometers away from the interstate border with Punjab. Both were taken into seven days of remand. Later, Raman Kumar, a Jammu native, was also held for his alleged involvement.
The local police arrested Karamjit Singh alias Tony on January 13. Two days later, Akash and Soureb alias Sobi were arrested on January 15. The NIA took over the probe on January 28. “Further, to carry out the logistical arrangements, Bhatti paid ₹ 30,000 to Akash through Raman Kumar. He also paid ₹ 5,000 to Karamjit Singh, who placed the explosive-laden vehicle at the police station and also did videography at Bhatti’s behest,” the NIA told the court.
In the chargesheet, the NIA said that Bhatti, currently suspected to be operating from Brazil, was the “principal conspirator, foreign-based handler, recruiter, financier, and overall controller of the conspiracy” culminating in the blast at the police station parking on January 10, days ahead of Republic Day celebrations.
“Pakistan linkage in initiation of the instant blast has emerged during investigation, as the SIM number 9878055613 through which SMS has been sent to the SIM number 8264212077 which led to triggering of the IED was used in a Nokia phone.
On investigation it has been established that the Nokia phone was manufactured in Pakistan itself and this issue also gets bolstered by the fact that the distributor and retailer of the phone were of Pakistan itself,” the NIA said.
