Punjab Police Arrest Two for Alleged Petrol Bomb Attack on BJP Office

Punjab Police have arrested two individuals in connection with an arson incident involving a petrol bomb at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Sangrur. The alleged attack took place during the early hours of Monday, and the arrests were made on Tuesday.

The suspects, identified as Happy Singh, also known as Happy, and Jaspreet Singh, also known as Jassi, were apprehended within a day of the incident. The police reported that the pair had received an advance payment of 2,200 Indian Rupees (approximately £22) through a Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for their actions, as part of a larger sum promised to them.

Senior Superintendent of Police Sangrur, Ravjot Grewal, revealed that the suspects were in contact via social media with an individual identified as Rana Bhai, who had allegedly arranged the attack and requested a video of the event. The payment to the suspects was made in two transactions, consisting of 1,200 and 1,000 Indian Rupees.

Happy Singh, 22 years old, is reportedly employed by Flipkart, a major Indian e-commerce company, while 26-year-old Jaspreet Singh works as a carpenter. The two are said to have met through social media platforms.

During the investigation, authorities seized a motorcycle used in the incident, registered under the number PB-13-BQ-0227, along with two mobile phones belonging to the duo. Police are currently investigating Rana Bhai's social media accounts and the UPI ID related to the monetary transaction.

A team led by Dr Simrat Kaur, Additional Inspector General of Police in Counter Intelligence, played a pivotal role in the investigation. Three teams were formed under the guidance of Superintendent of Police Davinder Attri, using both human intelligence and technical resources to identify the suspects involved in the case.

The police report indicates that the attackers lit a cloth wick attached to a bottle filled with petrol and threw it over the boundary wall of the BJP office. Fortunately, the incident occurred when the office was unoccupied, and while the blast caused some damage—leaving burn marks on the external wall—no injuries were reported. The blast was described as low in intensity, with another petrol bomb landing outside the office building.

Further details regarding the motives behind the attack and the identities of any co-conspirators may emerge following additional investigations and during subsequent legal proceedings, as the suspected individuals are remanded into police custody.

A formal case has been lodged at the City-1 Police Station in Sangrur, and the police remain vigilant in tracking any further leads related to this incident.