26 Witnesses in Chandigarh Grenade Attack Face Death Threats: NIA Warns Court, Security Approved; Attack Orchestrated by Terrorists Rinda and Pasia

Published on: 01 Nov 2025 at 12:58 PM

Published by: Fact News

Fact News Service

Chandigarh, November 1: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has received a major intelligence input regarding the Chandigarh Sector-10 grenade attack case. The agency informed the district court that 26 witnesses linked to the case face serious threats to their lives.

Seeking protection and confidentiality for the witnesses, the NIA filed a petition in the Chandigarh District Court two days ago. The court has now approved the plea, ordering security for all 26 witnesses and directing that their identities remain confidential.

The court emphasized that witness safety is of utmost priority, as the case involves terrorists and gangsters. The trial is ongoing in the district court and is being treated as a highly sensitive case under the NIA’s special supervision.

The attack took place on September 11, 2024, and was planned by Pakistan-based Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorists Harvinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda and Happy Pasia. Acting on their instructions, two men — Rohan and Vishal Masih — hurled a hand grenade at a house in Sector-10, Chandigarh.

Although there were no casualties, the blast created panic among Punjab and Chandigarh’s security agencies. Reports suggest that the target was a former Punjab Police officer, who fortunately was not at home during the attack.

How the Attack Was Executed

Investigations revealed that the two attackers arrived in Sector-10 from Sector-43 bus stand in an auto-rickshaw after conducting reconnaissance of the area. After throwing the grenade, they fled in the same auto. The auto driver, Kuldeep Kumar, was arrested within hours, but later released after his role was found to be insignificant.

During the NIA probe, it was found that Rohan and Vishal Masih were arrested by Punjab Police and are currently lodged in Amritsar Jail, while another accused, Abhijot Singh, is in Hoshiarpur Jail. The trial of all three is underway in Chandigarh District Court.

Following NIA’s plea, the court issued non-bailable warrants against absconding terrorist Harvinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda, who has been on the run for years and is believed to be hiding in Pakistan. The NIA, along with Punjab and Maharashtra Police, continues efforts to apprehend him.

The investigation also uncovered the involvement of another BKI-linked terrorist, Shamsher Singh alias Shera, who remains absconding. The court has initiated proceedings to declare him a proclaimed offender (PO).

Shamsher Singh Alias Shera to Be Declared Proclaimed Offender

The NIA’s special court in Chandigarh has begun proceedings to declare Shamsher Singh alias Shera a proclaimed offender in the grenade attack case. He has been summoned to appear in court on November 4 at 10 AM. If he fails to appear, he will be officially declared a PO.
Previously, the court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants against him, but they could not be executed.

Who is Harvinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda?

Fled to Pakistan via Nepal

Rinda, a native of Tarn Taran, Punjab, later moved to Nanded, Maharashtra. In September 2011, he was sentenced to life imprisonment in a murder case. After being implicated in multiple criminal cases, he escaped to Pakistan via Nepal using a fake passport, where he was reportedly recruited by Pakistan’s ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence).

From Pakistan, Rinda began sending weapons into Punjab via drones across the international border. A notorious gangster-turned-terrorist, Rinda has been involved in murders, contract killings, robberies, extortion, and snatching cases across Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Maharashtra.

Involved in Drug Trafficking and Declared a Terrorist

Rinda is deeply involved in drug and arms smuggling from Pakistan to India. He has played a key role in recruiting for Babbar Khalsa International, organizing assassinations, and extorting money in Punjab and Maharashtra to fund terror operations.

He was also implicated in the May 2022 RPG attack on the Punjab Police Intelligence Headquarters and several other terrorist activities. In 2023, the Government of India officially designated him as an “Individual Terrorist” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).