Punjab Police have zeroed in on the role of gangster-turned-Khalistani terrorist Harvinder Singh Rinda, who is emerging as the mastermind, a day after their intelligence headquarters in Mohali was targeted by a rocket-propelled grenade attack.

According to senior police officials, preliminary investigations indicate that the attack was carried out on Rinda’s orders by a gang operating in Punjab and Haryana. More than 20 people have been arrested in connection with the explosion on Monday night.

The explosion in Mohali at 7.45 p.m. on Monday, believed to be the result of a rocket-propelled grenade attack, prompted a high alert in Punjab. Despite the fact that no one was hurt, the blast in room 41 on the third floor of the headquarters shattered the windows.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann confirmed that “a few persons have been arrested, while a few others are being arrested” at a meeting of senior Punjab Police officials, which included state director general of police VK Bhawra. By Tuesday evening, everything should be clear. “Those who commit such acts will be held accountable,” Mann said.

The initial investigation revealed that two people used a car to attack the intelligence headquarters with grenades and then fled to Haryana.

Rinda, a gangster in Pakistan who is protected by Pakistani intelligence agencies, is involved in anti-India operations in Khalistan. He has used his gangster connections to carry out terror attacks in Punjab.

The case was opened after sub-inspector Balkar Singh, the security in-charge of the intelligence headquarters in Mohali, made a statement.

Balkar Singh said he was on duty in the evening when an explosion occurred around 7.45 p.m. on Monday. When he reached to the third floor, he noticed smoke coming from room 41. “We discovered the rocket-propelled grenade on the chair when we went inside.” He said in the FIR that it shattered the window and hit the room’s roof before falling on the chair.

“We are hopeful of cracking the case today itself,” a senior official from Punjab Police intelligence headquarters said. In this regard, we have already arrested a few people.”