Suspicion of ISI involvement in attack on RSS office in Ranchi, Jharkhand

(ISI refers to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence)

Ranchi (Jharkhand) – A total of three individuals have been arrested in connection with the petrol bomb attack on the RSS office in Ranchi. Of them, one accused is a resident of Ranchi, while the other two are from Lohardaga district. One of the accused, Aman Ansari, was seen throwing a petrol bomb in CCTV footage. While lodged in a prison in Dubai, Aman had come into contact with individuals linked to Pakistan and later came into direct contact with Pakistani handlers. He is suspected to have been in touch with the terrorist Shahzad Bhatti. Bhatti is believed to work for Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI. The Police are now investigating what instructions were given to Aman and with whom he was in contact.

1. Investigating agencies suspect the involvement of a larger network behind the attack.

The investigation revealed that the petrol bomb found outside the office had been assembled only a short while before the incident. The accused were not fully skilled in making petrol bombs and were still learning how to make them.

2. The accused had been recruited through social media contacts. The accused are between 20 and 22 years of age. Agencies suspect that the youths were influenced through a radical network. Certain suspicious social media contacts are also being investigated. Several digital pieces of evidence related to the case are being examined.

3. A purported handler named “Rana Saheb” had sent the accused a video showing how to make a petrol bomb. The accused attempted to make the bomb after watching this video. Agencies are now trying to identify and locate this handler.

Accused Saif attempted to escape from Police custody

Saif, one of the three main accused arrested in the case, attempted to escape from Police custody. At around 11:30 a.m. on 18th June, he succeeded in escaping after breaking the glass of a ventilation window in a washroom. He had boarded a bus to travel to his home in Lohardaga. A Police team apprehended him; however, while he was being brought back to Ranchi, he attempted to escape again. Saif also tried to snatch a pistol from a Police officer and flee. The Police then had to take retaliatory action, during which Saif sustained a bullet injury to his leg. He was subsequently admitted to a hospital for treatment.