Three people have been arrested in connection with an alleged petrol bomb attack on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh state office in Ranchi, with the police invoking provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, The Indian Express reported.
The investigation has also been transferred to the Jharkhand Anti-Terrorism Squad.
The incident took place shortly after midnight on Saturday, when two men allegedly hurled petrol bombs at the Hindutva organisation’s office in the Nivaranpur area of Ranchi.
According to the Ranchi Police, one petrol bomb landed on the roof of the building and caused a fire, while another fell near the entrance but did not ignite, The Hindu reported.
A Special Investigation Team formed under the supervision of senior police officers analysed CCTV footage and used technical surveillance to identify the suspects.
Saif Ansari and Aman Ansari, also known as Golu, were arrested near Gajhandi railway station in Koderma while allegedly attempting to flee to another state, The Indian Express reported.
Based on information gathered during their questioning, the police later arrested 21-year-old Sayam Sujan as the third suspect.
According to the police, one of the accused, Saif Ansari, later escaped from custody at Kotwali police station at around 11.30 am after allegedly breaking a toilet ventilation grill and glass panel.
Ansari was later intercepted during vehicle checking, The Indian Express quoted the police as saying. He allegedly tried to flee again and snatched a weapon from a police official, after which the authorities claimed to have fired in self-defence, injuring him in the leg.
The man is now being treated at a hospital.
Earlier, investigators recovered clothing allegedly worn during the attack from a drain under the Lower Bazar police station area. Four mobile phones and a vehicle believed to have been used in the incident were also seized.
A first information report was registered at Chutia police station in Ranchi on a complaint filed by RSS regional office head Narsingh Kumar, The Hindu reported.
The complaint stated that around 20 persons were present in the office at the time of the attack and alleged that many lives could have been lost if the explosive device had landed differently. It further alleged that the attackers had planned to blow up the RSS office.
Edited by Neerad Pandharipande.
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