Photo used for indicative purpose only
Shimla/Nalagarh, Jan 31,
In a major push to strengthen prosecution in the Nalagarh police station grenade blast, joint teams of Punjab Police and Himachal Pradesh Police on Friday began recreating the crime scene to establish the precise sequence of events behind the January 1 attack.
The move follows the arrest of two operatives—Shamsher Singh alias Sheru alias Kamal and Pradeep Singh alias Deepu, both residents of Rahon in Punjab’s Nawanshahr district—who investigators say are linked to the Pakistan-ISI-backed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was recovered from their possession.
According to investigators, custodial interrogation has revealed the duo’s role in a wider narco-terror module allegedly operating with cross-border backing. The network is suspected to be luring unemployed youth and targeting police establishments with grenade attacks across Punjab and adjoining states, including Himachal Pradesh.
Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav described the arrests as a major breakthrough, underscoring that the operation was carried out in close coordination with HP Police and central agencies.
Preliminary findings indicate that the accused, along with two associates, transported an IED from Punjab to Himachal Pradesh on December 31, 2025, which was allegedly used in the blast at Nalagarh police station the following day.
Police sources said the accused were acting on instructions from Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi of Nawanshahr and Sushant Chopra, described as a close associate of BKI mastermind Harvinder Singh Rinda. Their involvement surfaced during the probe of an NDPS Act case registered at Rahon police station.
Confirming further progress, Nawanshahr SSP Tushar Gupta said additional recoveries based on disclosures have corroborated the terror conspiracy. Two more associates have been identified, and raids are underway to arrest them.
Multiple cases have been registered under the Arms Act, Explosive Substances Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) as agencies intensify efforts to dismantle the network.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
