Mohali RPG Attack: Key Conspirator Lakhbir Singh Associate Of Pakistan Terrorist, Says Punjab DGP

The key conspirator Lakhbir Singh, a resident of Tarn Taran, is a close associate of gangster-turned-terrorist Harvinder Singh Rinda.

Police personnel cordon off the area after a blast outside the Punjab Polices intelligence department office in Mohali. (Image: PTI)

Days after the rocket-propelled grenade or RPG attack at an intelligence headquarters in Mohali, Punjab Police on Friday said that the key conspirator of the firing is a close associate of terrorist based in Pakistan. Speaking to reporters, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) VK Bhawra said that the key conspirator has been identified as Lakhbir Singh Landa who is a resident of Tan Tran. 

"Landa is a gangster and shifted to Canada in 2017. He is a close associate of Harinder Singh Rinda, who is a  terrorist based in Pakistan," Bhawra told presspersons. Rinda is believed to be in Pakistan.

Bharwa also informed that five people in connection with the RPG attack have been arrested and also pointed out at the nexus of militant outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and Pakistan's spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

"Bhawra said the five arrested include those who provided shelter, logistic support and the weapon to those who carried out the explosion," he said adding that three more are still wanted.

According to reports, the RPG was fired at the third floor of the highly-guarded building in Mohali's Sector 77 on Monday evening, following which an alert was sounded across the state. 

Windowpanes on one of the floors of the building were shattered because of the explosion. No one was injured in the incident.

Even intelligence agencies have suspected the involvement of pro-Khalistani elements behind the attack. 

RPG was identical to the ones used by the US army, and the agencies are suspecting that this might have been procured by the terror outfits in Pakistan from the Taliban, news agency IANS quoted a source as saying.

The Monday attack came four days after arrest of Pakistan-backed terrorists in Haryana's Karnal by the state police following inputs from the Punjab Police. Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had said "whoever tried to spoil the atmosphere would not be spared".

(With inputs from Jagwinder Patial.)