NIA Raids 18 Sites Across North India in Probe Linked to Grenade Attack at Ex-Punjab Minister’s Home

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday conducted coordinated searches at 18 locations across Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh in connection with a recent grenade attack on the residence of former Punjab minister Manoranjan Kalia in Jalandhar.

File Photo Source: Ravneet Singh Bittu

The raids were part of the NIA’s probe into the April 7 attack, which investigators believe is linked to the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) network. 

The agency seized digital devices, documents, and other incriminating material during operations targeting associates of BKI operative Kulbir Sidhu and US-based gangster Manish alias Kaka Rana, among others.

The search teams focused on suspected hideouts and contacts of the accused in districts including Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, SBS Nagar, Tarn Taran, Mansa (Punjab), Kurukshetra, Ambala, Karnal, Yamunanagar (Haryana), and Amroha (Uttar Pradesh).

Kulbir Sidhu, originally from Yamunanagar in Haryana and currently based in Germany, is considered a key aide of Pakistan-based BKI chief Wadhawa Singh Babbar. 

He is already named in a separate NIA case related to the killing of VHP leader Vikas Prabhakar in Punjab’s Nangal area last year.

According to officials, the April attack on Kalia’s home was executed by accused Saidul Ameen, who was arrested on April 12. 

It was part of a string of coordinated grenade strikes allegedly carried out under instructions from handlers located abroad. Kalia, a BJP national executive member, was not injured, but the incident triggered widespread political and public alarm.

This was the third grenade blast in Punjab within a month, including another recent explosion in Raipur Rasoolpur village. 

The spate of incidents has drawn scrutiny over the state’s internal security and prompted calls for stronger counterterrorism coordination.

The NIA formally took over the investigation from the state police on April 12. The probe is being handled under FIR no. 11/2025/NIA/DLI and remains ongoing.