North News
Chandigarh, September 15
Punjab Police, in coordination with Central Agencies and Delhi Police, have arrested the second suspect in the Chandigarh grenade blast case within 72 hours. Investigations have revealed that USA-based wanted gangster Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia, who operates under Pakistan-based Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Harvinder Singh, alias Rinda, and ISI, is accused of providing explosives, weapons, and logistical support. However, he allegedly reneged on promised rewards to the perpetrators.
“Following leads generated through various sources, the second suspect, Vishal Masih, a resident of Raimal village near Dhyanpur PS Kotli Surat Mallian, Batala, District Gurdaspur, has been arrested from Delhi,” said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav in a post on his X handle (formerly Twitter).
On Wednesday evening, two individuals carried out a grenade blast in Sector 10, Chandigarh. As the incident suggested a terror crime, Punjab Police and Central Agencies quickly apprehended one of the accused, Rohan Masih, on Friday along with weapons and ammunition. Rohan is currently in the custody of the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) in Amritsar.
DGP Yadav stated that the investigation has confirmed that Happy Passia supplied explosives, weapons, and logistical support through his local associates in Punjab, while also arranging financial backing. After the crime, the duo traveled to Amritsar before parting ways. Vishal first went to Jammu and Kashmir and then moved to Delhi, where he was apprehended.
The probe also revealed that Happy Passia initially offered funds and promised substantial rewards upon successful completion of the plan. However, after the crime was carried out, when the perpetrators reached out for the promised rewards, they were met with evasion and silence from Passia.
DGP Yadav emphasized the exploitative nature of these anti-national elements and urged the youth to be cautious of such terrorist handlers who lure and discard individuals with false promises. “Don’t fall prey to these elements who will use you and then abandon you,” he added.
This pattern of betrayal by foreign handlers has been observed in previous investigations, where innocent local youth are enticed with false promises and then abandoned after the crime is committed.
AIG SSOC Amritsar, Sukhminder Singh Mann, stated that an in-depth investigation is underway in coordination with Chandigarh Police to uncover the full conspiracy and local network of Happy Passia. Vishal Masih has been remanded to police custody until September 20, 2024, after being produced in court.
