Rs 65,000 is all it took to hire men for petrol bomb attacks on Hindu leaders in Punjab

LUDHIANA: It only took Rs 65,000 to hire men for carrying out the two Molotov cocktail (petrol bomb) attacks at the residences of two right-wing Hindu outfit leaders in Punjab on Oct 16 and then on Nov 2, police investigation has revealed.

The money, which was to be distributed between the attackers, was transferred to four bank accounts operated by the acquaintances of accused Ravinderpal Singh alias Ravi of Rahon area in Nawanshahr. Ludhiana police have now approached the banks concerned to get the details of the transactions.

Police are also probing if more Hindu leaders were on the target of the accused. The Ludhiana counter-intelligence wing of Punjab Police and Ludhiana commissionerate police, in a joint operation, on Tuesday arrested four accused involved in the petrol bomb attacks at the houses of Shiv Sena (Bharat Vanshi) Yogesh Bakhshi on Oct 16 and Harkirant Singh Khurana of Shiv Sena (Hind) on Nov 2.

Apart from Ravi (38), police had arrested Jaswinder Singh alias Binder of Boothgarh village of Ludhiana, and Manish Sahid alias Sanju (30) and Anil Kumar alias Honey (27), both residents of Rahon. Their accomplice Lovpreet Singh alias Monu Baba, resident of Nawanshahr, is yet to be arrested. Police have also seized two mobile phones and impounded a red-coloured TVS Raider motorcycle used to execute the crimes.

Police had also said that the attack was masterminded by Europe-based handlers of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), Harjit Singh Laddi and Sabi. Manish is also accused of involvement in the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Vikas Prabhakar in Nangal. He had allegedly arranged shooters for the murder.

An official of Ludhiana police said their probe found Ravi had received about Rs 65,000 in four bank accounts from the main accused. “These four bank accounts are of acquaintances of Ravi. Police have got the details of the bank accounts and have asked the banks concerned to share details of the accounts from which the money was transferred,” the official added.

The official said this money was to be distributed among all accused.
Asked if Manish was involved in this bank transaction, knowing the fact he was in direct link with BKI handler Sabi, the official said, “Though Manish was long as sociated with Sabi, Ravi had talked to Laddi over a call a few days before the first attack. Since then, Ravi was in direct contact with Laddi. Therefore, money was also transferred into the bank accounts provided by Rav.”

The official said the police were questioning the accused to find if more leaders were on their hit-list.
Police said Ravi, Anil and Jaswinder are the ones who had lobbed a petrol bomb at the house of Yogesh Bakshi in Haibowal, while at Harikrat Khurana’s house, the bomb was hurled by Ravi, Anil and Lovepreet. Police said the accused only wanted to threaten the leaders. Police said Lovepreet Singh had been living at adera in Nawanshahr and is addressed as Monu Baba by people. He has escaped from the dera and is being tracked.

Commissioner cites provocative content
Ludhiana commissioner of police Kuldeep Singh Chahal said provocative content posted by leaders on social media accounts was the reason for the attack. “People are advised to refrain from posting provocative content. Anyone found involved in hate speech would face action,” he said.


Four persons have been arrested by the Ludhiana Counter Intelligence and Ludhiana city police in connection with a Molotov cocktail (petrol bomb) attack targeting two leaders of Hindu organizations. One suspect remains at large.