BJP leader arrested in jail break conspiracy case
RANCHI: BJP District President of Scheduled Caste in Chaibasa Ramashankar Pandey, along with three other persons, has been arrested allegedly for hatching a conspiracy for executing a jailbreak to free some dreaded Maoists from Chaibasa division jail.
Police said that the three other arrested persons - Vijay Khalkho, Chamu Munda and Juel Horo were the security guards who were currently deputed in Chaibasa Division Jail.
"On a tip-off that Sandeep Soren along with other inmates lodged in the jail have been planning for a jailbreak with the help of some policemen deputed in the jail, Ramashankar Pandey and three other persons were arrested on Monday," said Chaibasa SP Kranti Kumar Gadhdesi.
Pandey, who had been managing finances of Sandeep Soren, had already paid Rs 4 lakh to Khalko for executing jailbreak sometime during Dusshera, he added. The SP said that the other hardcore Maoists who were also to be released during the jailbreak include Rajesh Santhali, Rameshwar Kunkal, Markendeya Singh Kutia, Dev Kumar Biruli and Nalla Bhikshapati.
Though the Police had suspected the jailbreak a fortnight ago, it had been waiting for some more evidence to support the case, he added.
"There was plan to jump the prison wall taking help of ropes or by triggering a bomb blast in the court campus or on their way to the court," said the SP.
Intensive recce inside and outside the jail, as well as the court campus, was being done by their supporters to execute their plan to free wanted Maoists, he added. During interrogation, it was disclosed that the deal was finalized in Rs 10 lakh, with an advance payment of Rs 4 lakh.
Remarkably, Sandeep Soren, Dhiren Da alias Uttam Da alias Girish Da alias Narayan Mahato, Raghunath Hembram alias Birsen alias Nirbhay ji had also escaped from the same on January 27, 2011 following a jailbreak.
Interestingly, Vijay Khlalho was also deputed there when incidents of jailbreak had taken place at Chaibasa Jail in 2011 and 2014. The SP said that the three security guards in connivance with the jailed Maoists had planned for the jailbreak.
courtesy : newindianexpress.com
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Punjab: Blast near army cantt area in Amritsar, hours after explosion in Jalandhar
Chandigarh (PTI): An explosion occurred near the army cantonment area in Khasa late Tuesday night in Punjab's Amritsar, the second such incident which took place around three hours after a blast outside the headquarters of the Border Security Force's Punjab Frontier in Jalandhar.
According to the police, an investigation into both blast incidents is currently underway, and no injuries have been reported.
The first explosion happened around 8 pm in Jalandhar, while the second blast occurred at approximately 11 pm in Amritsar.
Amritsar (Rural) Senior Superintendent of Police Suhail Mir Qasim stated that police received reports of a loud sound at around 11 pm on a road in Khasa. "Our teams arrived on the scene immediately," he said.
Preliminary inspections indicated that someone had thrown an explosive device towards the boundary wall, leading to the explosion, according to the SSP.
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Police mentioned that a piece of a tin sheet covering the boundary wall had fallen as a result of the blast.
Following the explosion, a team of forensic and bomb disposal squad visited the site to collect samples.
Amritsar Rural Superintendent of Police Aditya S. Warrier, who also visited the scene, confirmed that further investigations are ongoing. Police added that a team of army officials also assessed the situation, after which the area was cordoned off.
CCTV footage from the vicinity shows the explosion occurring at night. A local villager reported that his family was awakened by the loud sound and came outside their home to see what had happened.
Before the Amritsar explosion, a blast took place outside the headquarters of the Border Security Force's Punjab Frontier in Jalandhar district around 8 pm on Tuesday, causing panic in the area.
CCTV footage captured the explosion, which resulted in a cloud of smoke. An unidentified man was seen running for cover following the blast.
The blast ripped apart a scooter, damaged a traffic signal pole and windowpanes of a nearby shop. Locals recounted that the scooter, which was parked outside the BSF headquarters, Punjab Frontier, caught fire shortly after a loud sound. It belonged to Gurpreet Singh, who regularly delivers parcels in the area.
Talking to reporters on Tuesday night, one of Gurpreet's relatives said that the scooter caught fire as he was approaching it. He immediately called his father and informed him about the incident.
Jalandhar Police Commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur confirmed to reporters late Tuesday that an Activa scooter parked near the gate caught fire suddenly. She stated that Gurpreet is fully cooperating with the investigation.
Witnesses nearby reported hearing a loud sound following the explosion.
On April 27, an explosion occurred at a freight corridor rail track in Shambhu in Patiala. Police had arrested four members of a pro-Khalistan terror module, backed by Pakistan's ISI, for the blast.
In light of these incidents, opposition parties have condemned the AAP government for its handling of the situation.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal criticised Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who also holds the home portfolio, over the recent blasts.
"Three blasts in 10 days, two in a single day, May 5: Jalandhar outside BSF headquarters and Sri Amritsar Sahib Army area, April 27: Rajpura rail track. Continued intelligence failures and the collapse of law and order are a matter of grave concern. Chief Minister @BhagwantMann, who is also the state Home Minister, is busy with mimicry and cheap politics. He has forfeited the right to remain in office," Badal said in a post on X.
Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring also slammed the Mann government over the two blasts.
"Back-to-back blasts have shaken Punjab. Yesterday in Jalandhar, and now near Khasa Camp in Amritsar, this is deeply alarming. Who is trying to destabilise our state? Why has the Punjab Government failed to prevent such incidents? What is the Government of India doing? Repeated lapses point to a serious breakdown of intelligence and security. Punjab's peace cannot be compromised. We demand accountability and immediate action," Warring said in a post on X.
