Four detained for Attack on RSS office in Ranchi

Ranchi (IANS): Ranchi police have detained four individuals in connection with the petrol bomb attack on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) provincial office in Nivaranpur. The detainees include the driver of the vehicle allegedly used in the crime and two suspected attackers.

Investigators are currently questioning the detainees to determine the motive behind the attack and uncover any broader conspiracy.

Preliminary findings indicate that the attackers arrived at the scene on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday in a rented car. Police first tracked down and detained the vehicle’s driver. Acting on subsequent leads, law enforcement intercepted two suspects at a railway station in Bihar as they reportedly attempted to flee to Delhi by train. Authorities have placed a fourth individual in custody for questioning.

Following orders from Jharkhand Director General of Police Tadasha Mishra, a newly constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT) has launched raids at multiple locations across Ranchi. The team is leveraging CCTV footage, technical evidence, and digital leads. Concurrently, a team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) inspected the crime scene on Wednesday, prompting authorities to widen the scope of the probe after uncovering significant initial leads.

CCTV footage captured two youths throwing petrol bombs into the RSS office premises. While one bomb exploded near the compound, the other failed to detonate. Teams from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and a dog squad have swept the scene to collect evidence. As a precautionary measure, the administration has deployed additional security personnel at the RSS office and surrounding areas.

The incident has triggered sharp political reactions. Former Chief Minister Raghubar Das strongly condemned the attack on Wednesday, welcoming the prompt formation of the SIT, which he had previously urged the DGP to establish. He demanded that investigators expose the larger conspiracy and arrest all perpetrators.

Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi also condemned the strike, labelling the midnight bombing extremely serious and alarming. He confirmed that he has directed the Ranchi SP, DC, and the state DGP to swiftly identify and capture the culprits.