Maharashtra ATS nabs main accused in Punjab Police HQ attack

Charatsingh was handed over to the Punjab police after his arrest from Malad. Pic/Punjab police

The key accused in the attack on the Punjab police headquarters in Mohali on May 9 was arrested from Malad on Thursday by the Maharashtra ATS. He was handed over to the Punjab police. The accused had planned the attack on the Punjab police headquarters after he stepped out of prison on parole in Punjab in March this year.

According to the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), the terrorist, Charatsingh alias Indrajitsingh Karisingh alia Karaj Singh, 30, has eight criminal offences registered against him. In March he was out on two months parole from Kapurthala Jail, Punjab.

"During his parole period he and his associates attacked Punjab Police's Intelligence Head Quarters, Mohali with Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) on May 9," said officials of Maharashtra ATS. No one was injured in that attack.

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"The Anti-Terrorism Squad, Maharashtra received discreet information about his whereabouts. Accordingly an ATS team detained him from Malad. During interrogation, it was revealed that he is in contact with wanted terrorist named Lakhbir Singh Landa, presently in Canada," the ATS said in a statement. The arrested accused has been handed over to Punjab Police for further necessary action, the ATS statement added.

According to sources, the accused who was in hiding since May landed in Mumbai on Thursday. "He landed at 3 am and was picked up in less than 24 hours. He arrived from Mangalore," an officer of Maharashtra ATS said.

The Punjab DGP, Gaurav Yadav, on his official twitter handle, however, said that it was a joint operation along with intel agencies and Maharashtra ATS. "In a major breakthrough, Punjab police in a joint operation with the Central Agency and ATS Maharashtra, has apprehended Charat Singh, main accused in RPG attack at Intel HQs Mohali, Punjab from Mumbai today morning," he wrote.

"He is key operative and associate of Canada-based Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Lakhbir Singh @ Landa and Harvindar Singh Rinda operating from Pakistan," he added.