Ranchi: Jharkhand Police have stepped up their investigation into the petrol bomb attack on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) provincial office at Nivaranpur in Ranchi, detaining four persons, including two suspected attackers and the driver of the vehicle allegedly used in the incident.
The attack took place on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. CCTV cameras installed near the RSS office captured the incident, providing investigators with crucial leads.
According to police, the accused arrived in a rented car. Investigators first tracked down the vehicle’s driver and later arrested two suspects who were allegedly trying to escape to Delhi by train. They were intercepted at a railway station in Bihar. Another person has also been detained and is being questioned.
Officials said the suspects are being interrogated to ascertain the motive behind the attack and to determine whether it was part of a larger, organised conspiracy.
Acting on the directions of Jharkhand Director General of Police Tadasha Mishra, the state police have constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the case. The SIT has carried out raids at several locations in Ranchi based on CCTV footage, technical evidence and other intelligence gathered during the probe.
A team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) also visited the attack site and conducted a preliminary inspection. Sources said investigators have found important leads during questioning, prompting authorities to broaden the investigation.
Police are now examining the role of each detained individual while also looking into whether more people were involved in planning or executing the attack.
Investigators said CCTV footage shows two youths throwing petrol bombs into the RSS office premises. One of the bombs exploded inside the compound, while the second failed to go off. Teams from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and a dog squad have also examined the scene and collected evidence.
Security around the RSS office has been strengthened as a precautionary measure. Police said further details would be made public after the investigation progresses.
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das strongly condemned the attack and demanded a thorough investigation to identify not only those directly involved but also anyone behind the alleged conspiracy. He also welcomed the formation of the SIT, saying he had earlier urged the Director General of Police to set up a special investigation team.
Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi also termed the incident “extremely serious and alarming,” calling for the immediate identification and arrest of all those responsible. He urged the police to ensure a swift and impartial investigation into the attack.
With inputs from IANS