DGP Punjab: ‘Ludhiana blast cracked in 24 hours, Khalistani links not ruled out’

Chandigarh, Dec 25 (UNI) In less than 24 hours, Punjab Police managed to crack the Ludhiana court bomb blast case after zeroing in on the identity of the deceased, Gagandeep Singh.

Punjab Director General of Police Siddarth Chattopadhyaya on Saturday addressed the press and hailed the efforts of his force that joined efforts with the Intelligence and central agencies to crack the case. He didn’t rule out external angles as the alleged accused had Khalistani links.
“I am proud of the Punjab Police, who have successfully cracked the Ludhiana blast case in less than 24 hours,” said Chattopadhyaya.
He said Pakistan-based Pro-Khalistani connection behind the act is being probed. The DGP said police are investigating this case from all angles.
“Preliminary investigations suggests that accused Gagandeep could have developed links with Pro-Khalistan elements in Ludhiana Jail. His Khalistani links could have used him to target the court premises with intention to disturb the peace of the State,” Chattopadhyaya said.

The Thursday afternoon explosion that rocked poll-bound Punjab and led to reverberation in national politics, saw Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju rush to Ludhiana a day after to take stock. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was taking keen interest in the case and everything was above politics. Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi said none will be spared.

Coming close on the heels of two untoward incidents one of a lynching in Amritsar and another case of alleged scarilege in Kapurthala, police was under pressure to deliver.

Addressing the media here, the DGP said police found many leads. The spot was immediately cordoned off and thoroughly investigated on Thursday when the blast left at least six injured. Tattered clothes, mobile SIM and a tattoo on the one casualty set the pace of the probe.

Preliminary investigation showed the deceased was a dismissed Punjab Police Head Constable. He was carrying the explosive, the DGP said.
The 31-year-old from of Khanna, who was recruited in Punjab Police as constable, was dismissed in August 2019 after 385g of heroin was recovered from his possession.
According to the accused Gagandeep’s wife Jaspreet Kaur, Singh left home around 9.30 am on Thursday and switched off his mobile. She recognised the tattoo mark on the arm of Gagandeep and the apparel worn by him.

The high intensity explosion occurred in a public toilet at the District Court Complex. The court was functioning as usual, when the blast took place. It was so powerful that part of the building shattered and cars in the groud floor parking lot were damaged.

Chattopadhyaya said during post mortem the deceased’s identify was established from his tattoo on the right arm. Separately, the DNA samples of the body were also collected, he added.

The DGP said Singh was working as a Munshi at Police Station Sadar Khanna, when he was arrested with heroin and an NDPS case was slapped on him at Mohali’s STF SAS Nagar police station.

The case is still in trial stage — prosecution evidence being heard.

Singh after spending two years in Ludhiana Jail got out on bail in September. He was to appear in the court again on December 24, the DGP said.

Chattopadhyaya said preliminary investigations suggest Gagandeep wanted to create fear and panic at the court premises.

He said that the material used for the explosion is yet to be ascertained as samples have been sent to the forensic lab.

“A team of National Security Guard (NSG) and that of the state forensic experts were called for a post blast investigation,” he said.

During the course of systematic clearing of debris at the blast site, the forensic team collected some vital clues like damaged mobile set and burnt clothes on the body of the deceased, besides other material evidence, he added.

The DGP has visited the Court Complex and met with District and Sessions Judge. He has reviewed the security arrangements.

He also held the meeting with field officers on Friday and directed them to keep utmost vigil to prevent any further terror attack in the state.