The Kotwali police have apprehended the fifth individual in connection with a petrol bomb attack targeting a homoeopathic clinic on Mela Ram Road in Bathinda. The incident occurred on June 22, a day when Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was present in the city and less than two kilometers from the site of the attack.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the accused has been identified as Sukhjeet Singh, also known as Seetu, a resident of Jeonwala village in the Faridkot district. The SHO of Kotwali police station, Inspector Yadwinder Singh, stated that Singh faces 17 registered criminal cases at various police stations, including charges of murder and attempt to murder.
This latest arrest brings the total number of individuals taken into custody for the attack to five. The investigation thus far has not revealed any extortion motive behind the incident, police said.
Despite the absence of an extortion angle being immediately apparent, the family of the clinic owner reportedly received threatening calls originating from Pakistan following the attack. These calls have led authorities to investigate potential foreign connections, with particular attention being paid to Pakistan-based militants. Specifically, Shahzad Bhatti, identified as a Pakistan-based militant, is alleged to have made these calls.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has also become involved, with a team visiting Bathinda to examine the case. The attack itself involved unidentified individuals hurling a bottle filled with an inflammable liquid at the clinic, causing damage to a scooter and some plants. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the incident. A case has been registered at the Kotwali police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 113 pertaining to terrorist acts, and under the Explosives Act.
The incident has raised concerns about the security environment in the region, especially given its proximity to the Chief Minister’s presence and the reported international dimension involving calls from Pakistan-based militants. Authorities are continuing their investigations to ascertain the full scope of the conspiracy and the motivations behind the attack.
The Chenab Times News Desk
