A team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday visited the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Sangrur after taking over the investigation into the petrol bomb attack on the premises on July 26.
Sangrur deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Dalbir Singh confirmed that the NIA has taken over the case. “The case has wider international ramifications and thus falls under the prerogative of the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA). Provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) were also added later. The suspects allegedly recorded a video of the attack and intended to send it to the handler to receive the remaining promised amount. Police later two others accused identified as Shah Nawaz Khan from Delhi and Karanbir from Ajnala were arrested in connection with the case.
The team remained there for about 15 minutes, he added. Based on the complaint filed by former BJP district president Maninder Singh Kapial, a first information report (FIR) was registered under Section 326 (g) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 3 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908. Rana transferred ₹ 1,200 and ₹ 1,000 to the accused in two separate transactions, according to police.
The police have handed over all documents and relevant files and details of the crime scene to the NIA,” he said. Party’s district president, Sarjeevan Jindal, said the NIA team led by a DSP-rank officer visited the office and examined the spot. After the arrest, the police said the accused were in contact with a foreign-based handler identified as ‘Rana Bhai’, who had allegedly promised to pay them to carry out the attack and record a video of it.
