RPG attack in Mohali: Not an isolated incident

Just a day after Khalistani flags were found hanging at the gate and boundary walls of the Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly, an RPG was fired at the intelligence Wing headquarters of Punjab Police in Mohali, Punjab. The responsibility for both these incidents was taken up by the banned terrorist group Sikh For Justice (SFJ). Both of the incidents are ringing alarm bells that should be taken seriously by the state heads.

RPG fired at Punjab Police Headquarters

In a shocking incident, a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) was fired at Punjab Police’s Intelligence Wing headquarters situated in Mohali, Punjab. The grenade landed on the third floor of the building but thankfully failed to explode. All it could manage was to damage a glass door and shatter window panes.

The agencies are investigating the matter and the preliminary investigations indicate that the RPG attack was carried out by a wanted gangster, Harvinder Singh alias Rinda. Reports suggest that Singh is based in Pakistan and has been involved in terror operations against India.

Initial reports suggest that some arrests have been made, and the crackdown is being continuously carried out by the investigating agencies.

RPG attack: Not an isolated incident

The recent RPG attack on the Punjab Police headquarters in Mohali is not an isolated incident, rather several such threatening incidents have been reported from the border state of Punjab.

Just a day before the attack, that is, on Sunday, Khalsiatni flags and slogans were found on the walls and gates of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly situated near Tapovan. Three days before this, four suspected terrorists with IEDs were arrested near Haryana’s Karnal. Along with that, nearly a fortnight ago, an explosive device was found near Burail jail in Chandigarh.

Khalistan rears his head again

The responsibility for both these incidents has been taken by the banned pro-Khalistan terrorist organisation, Sikh For Justice (SFJ), as claimed by the self-acclaimed general counsel of the pro-Khalistan outfit, Gurpatwant Singh Pannu through an unverified voice message.

Issuing a threat to Himachal CM Jairam Thakur, Pannu asked the Himachal CM to take lessons from the grenade attack in Mohali as it could just as easily have been Shimla Headquarters as well.

Pannu went a step further and asked CM Thakur to raise the referendum 20-20 on June 6, 2022, on the day of voting in Himachal, or else face the consequences.

Time for the state heads to wake up

The two prominent states of India in the north have faced the heat of Khalistani activism. CM Thakur has, however, condemned the hanging of Khalistani flags on the wall and gates of Vidhan Sabha and has ordered a strict probe. There is one more reason for CM Thakur to worry as the secessionist group has claimed that the Khalistani flags were sent through Sikh activists who went with Bhagwant Mann to participate in an Arvind Kejriwal rally. Well, Bhagwant Mann, the name pronounced by SFJ’s Pannu has blamed the incident on miscreants.

Also, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said the “strictest” punishment will be given to those who tried to spoil the atmosphere in the state by attacking the intelligence headquarters at Mohali and was found appraising the work of Punjab Police as it made some arrests.

SFJ claiming the responsibility for the aforementioned incidents is a threat to not only the border state of Punjab but also Himachal Pradesh as the secessionist organisation is trying to rear its ugly head on Indian soil. Pannu has also remarked that during the 38^th year of Operation Blue Star, the pro-Khalistan group will announce the voting date for the Khalistan referendum in Indian states.

Security concerns in the strategically crucial states of Punjab and Himachal are on the rise. Apart from this, the states are also witnessing an influx of explosives, weapons and drugs from across the border. This is a matter of great concern for the respective state heads.