New Delhi: Senior BJP leaders on Wednesday alleged that the petrol bomb attack on a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) office in Ranchi was part of a larger conspiracy, while urging the Jharkhand Police to conduct a thorough investigation and swiftly identify those responsible.
Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth described the incident as a serious security concern, saying the consequences could have been severe had the fire spread.
“The main RSS office was attacked at around 12:36 a.m. Two youths first threw one petrol bomb and then another. These were crude incendiary devices designed to ignite on impact,” Seth said.
According to him, the attackers had covered their faces before targeting the premises. He added that 18 RSS pracharaks were inside the office when the incident occurred.
“If the flames had spread to nearby vehicles or the building, it could have resulted in a major tragedy. The attack took place at a time when people often gather in the area to watch football matches during the summer. The way it was carried out suggests a larger conspiracy,” Seth claimed.
The Union Minister said he had spoken to the Director General of Police and the Deputy Commissioner, urging them to ensure a comprehensive investigation and make the findings public at the earliest.
“This is not an ordinary incident. Had the fire spread, it could have disrupted peace. We will not allow Ranchi’s law and order to be disturbed,” he said.
BJP MLA C.P. Singh also termed the attack suspicious, saying the RSS state headquarters in Nivaranpur had been functioning peacefully for decades and that the incident appeared to be part of a broader conspiracy.
Former Union Minister Arjun Munda condemned the attack in a post on X, calling it “extremely unfortunate and condemnable.” He said such incidents undermine social harmony, peace and democratic values.
Jharkhand BJP president Aditya Sahu also criticised the state’s law-and-order situation, alleging that criminals were operating with impunity. Referring to the attack, he said it was alarming that an RSS office in a residential locality of the state capital had been targeted with petrol bombs.
According to the police, two unidentified men allegedly hurled petrol bombs at the RSS office in Ranchi’s Nivaranpur area late Tuesday night. The crude explosives failed to reach the office premises, resulting in no injuries or property damage. The incident was captured on CCTV cameras, and investigators are examining the footage along with other evidence to identify the accused.
The investigation is ongoing.
With inputs from IANS