Punjab grenade attack: Lawrence Bishnoi aide behind blast at BJP leader’s home, ISI link suspected

The grenade attack at BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia’s house in Jalandhar, Punjab, was planned by Zeeshan Akhtar — a close aide of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and a wanted suspect in the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique — according to sources in the Punjab Police.

The same sources also revealed that Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI, was involved in a larger conspiracy to disturb religious harmony in Punjab and that the attack was planned from across the border.

The explosion took place early Tuesday at Mr. Kalia’s residence. He is a former Cabinet minister and ex-BJP state chief. The blast damaged an aluminum partition and shattered window panes of his house and vehicles. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Mr. Kalia was at home when the attack occurred.

This incident is the latest in a string of explosions across Punjab, which has led Opposition parties to criticize the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government. Punjab Minister Mohinder Bhagat blamed those who “could not digest the all-round development of the state” for the attack.

Police sources said the person who threw the grenade has been arrested and the e-rickshaw used in the crime has been recovered.

Interestingly, shortly after the explosion, Happy Passia — a terrorist from Babbar Khalsa International — claimed responsibility for the attack. This has raised suspicions that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang may be collaborating with Khalistani terror groups and Pakistan’s ISI, a theory that security agencies have been investigating for some time.

In the past year, Punjab has seen up to 12 blasts. Happy Passia’s name has come up in several investigations, and gangster Jeevan Fauji is also believed to be involved. Many of these attacks have targeted police establishments in Amritsar.