The Bathinda police, in a joint operation with the Counter Intelligence Wing, claimed to have cracked the petrol bomb attack on a homoeopathic clinic near the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) office. Two youths have been arrested, while a third accused remains absconding. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had also begun probing the case a day earlier.
The attack took place while CM Bhagwant Singh Mann was staying overnight in the city, barely a kilometre away from the spot.
Bathinda DIG Harjeet Singh identified the arrested persons as Nikhil Kumar (21) and Gurwinder Singh (22), residents of Khuian Sarwar village in Fazilka district. The absconding accused, Sandeep Singh, had studied with them earlier.
Preliminary investigation suggests the trio were promised about Rs 3,000 each to carry out the attack, though the money was not paid. The police believe Sandeep was in touch with a criminal network.
The accused are school dropouts and daily-wage labourers with no known criminal background. Bathinda SSP Jyoti Yadav said CCTV footage and an autorickshaw used in their escape provided the breakthrough. Evidence included a carry bag marked “Abohar”, used to carry the inflammable liquid. The accused arrived in Bathinda by bus hours before the attack and roamed the city before executing the plan.
The SSP added the arrested men attempted to flee while being transported, jumping from a railway overbridge and sustaining injuries. They are under treatment at the Civil Hospital.
Clinic co-owner Dr Tarsem Garg said CCTV footage showed two men throwing a bottle of inflammable material into the courtyard, damaging a scooter, plants and a window. No injuries were reported.
The police have also booked Pakistan-based terrorist Shahzad Bhatti after Garg’s wife alleged she received a WhatsApp call and messages from him following the incident.
An NIA team visited the clinic and collected details. A case under Section 113 of the BNS (terrorist act) and the Explosives Act has been registered at the Kotwali police station. Officials are also verifying social media posts claiming Tehreek-e-Taliban Hindustan (TTH) took responsibility.
