The Punjab Police has arrested the main accused in the grenade attack on BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia’s residence in Jalandhar, a shocking act of violence that has now been linked to gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s network and Pakistan’s ISI. The breakthrough comes as concerns grow over a nexus between organised crime, cross-border terror, and extremist groups in the state.
According to top police sources, the attack was masterminded by Zeeshan Akhtar, a close aide of Lawrence Bishnoi and a wanted accused in the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddiqui. Akhtar is believed to be working in coordination with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Khalistan-linked terror outfits, including Babbar Khalsa International.
The accused, who threw the grenade at Kalia’s house, has been taken into custody, and the e-rickshaw used in the operation has also been seized, police confirmed.
The explosion occurred early Tuesday morning, causing significant damage to the aluminum partition, shattering glass windows of the house and nearby vehicles. Fortunately, no one was injured, although Mr. Kalia — a former state BJP chief and Cabinet Minister — was at home at the time.
This latest act of violence has sparked political outrage and added to the growing list of blasts across the state in recent months.
Shortly after the incident, Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Happy Passia claimed responsibility for the attack. Security officials say this raises serious concerns about possible collaboration between Bishnoi’s gang and Khalistan extremists, a theory that has long been under intelligence surveillance.
According to police, Happy Passia is already linked to multiple explosions in Punjab, particularly those targeting police establishments in Amritsar. Investigations also suggest the involvement of gangster Jeevan Fauji, suspected to be operating as part of the same network.
12 blasts in 12 months: What’s going on in Punjab?
The grenade attack is the 12th explosion in Punjab within a year, a figure that has triggered serious security concerns and political backlash. The opposition has targeted the Bhagwant Mann-led state government, accusing it of failing to curb the rise in gang violence and cross-border terror threats.
While Punjab Minister Mohinder Bhagat suggested that those who cannot digest the state’s development are behind the unrest, the broader narrative points to a complex web of gangsters, foreign agencies, and extremist groups trying to destabilize peace in the region.
What’s next?
With the accused now in custody and links emerging across borders and criminal networks, security agencies are deepening their probe into a possible terror-gangster nexus. More arrests are likely as surveillance and intelligence efforts intensify.