‘Conspired by Canada-fugitive Arsh Dalla’: Moga court convicts 3, acquits 4 in 2022 hand-grenade attack on police

Jaspal Singh Manjhpur, defence counsel in the case, said that on Wednesday, the court convicted Gurpreet, Baljit and Varinder, while acquitted Arshdeep Singh Arsh, Amandeep alias Mantri, Sagar Babu and Sunil Bhalwan of all charges.

“Gurpreet, Baljit and Varinder have been convicted and sentenced for three years each along with a fine of Rs 2,000 each. While Gurpreet and Varinder have been convicted under Section 25 of the Arms Act, Baljit under Section 5 of Explosives Act. They have been convicted on all other charges including attempted murder and UAPA. Four others have been acquitted from all charges,” said Manjhpur.

Manjhpur said that Gurpreet is imprisoned, and Varinder and Baljit are out on bail. “All three have already undergone over three years of imprisonment in the case.”

Arsh Dalla did not face trial in the case.

The police had arrested Gurpreet Singh, Baljit Singh and Varinder Singh — the three alleged aides of Canada-based designated terrorist and Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Arsh Dalla. The police claimed that the trio had tried to run over the police party at a checkpoint in Chogawan village. They also had thrown hand grenades with an attempt to kill the policemen, the police said.

Later the police had also named Arsh Dalla in the case, and added the Sections 10, 11, 13, 16, 17, 18 and 20 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) to the FIR.

Arsh, Amandeep, Sagar and Sunil were also nominated as accused in the case later.

The police had claimed that they seized one 9 mm pistol from Gurpreet alias Gopi of Shadiwala village and Varinder of Makhu and two hand grenades from Baljit of Fatehgarh Panjtoor village.

According to Moga police, Dalla had provided the convicted trio with weapons and hand grenades, to “attack a church” and create “communal tension in Punjab”.

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