Total Number of Arrested Accused Rises to Six; Probe Underway to Uncover Wider Terror Network
New Delhi, Sep 1: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested three more accused in connection with the IED explosion at Police Station Nalagarh in Himachal Pradesh on January 1, 2026, taking the total number of arrests in the case to six.
The explosion occurred at around 9:40 AM near the outer wall adjoining the room of the Investigating Officer inside the premises of Police Station Nalagarh.
The case was initially registered as FIR No. 02/2026 at Police Station Nalagarh, Himachal Pradesh. The investigation was subsequently taken over by the NIA, which re-registered the case on May 8, 2026, as RC-27/2026/NIA/DLI under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Explosive Substances Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Three More Arrested
During the course of investigation, the NIA established the alleged involvement of three additional accused identified as Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Kandola, a resident of Mohalla Sirhindya, Rahon, District SBS Nagar, Punjab; Karanpartap, resident of Mohalla Rota, Rahon, District SBS Nagar, Punjab; and Diljot Saini, resident of Jhansi Park Colony, Nawanshehar Road, Rahon, District SBS Nagar, Punjab.
The agency said all three accused have now been arrested in the present case. They were already under arrest in connection with FIR No. 11/2026, registered at Police Station Garhshankar in Punjab.
Three Accused Arrested Earlier
Prior to the latest arrests, the NIA had arrested three other accused in the case — Mahavir Kumar alias Kaka, Ajay Mehra and Manpreet Singh alias Mani.
According to the agency, these three accused had initially been arrested by Punjab Police in connection with FIR No. 02/2026 of SSOC, Mohali, Punjab, before subsequently being arrested by the NIA in the Nalagarh police station blast case.
With the arrest of the latest three accused, the total number of persons arrested by the NIA in connection with the Nalagarh IED explosion case has reached six.
NIA Probes Wider Conspiracy
The latest arrests are part of the NIA’s ongoing investigation into the alleged larger conspiracy behind the attack. The agency is working to identify all persons involved and trace the wider network and linkages associated with the incident.
Further investigation is underway to establish the precise roles allegedly played by the accused, determine the links among them, identify other persons who may have been involved in the conspiracy and uncover the full extent of the criminal network behind the attack.(KNC)
