The Special Task Force (STF) of Ambala has averted a major security threat following the recovery of a Chinese-made hand grenade from a car parked near the Shahabad sugar mill in Kurukshetra. The explosive was discovered inside a Skoda vehicle stationed at a motor yard on the Shahabad-Ladwa road. The breakthrough came after the STF interrogated a suspect identified as Surya Pratap, a resident of Tangaur, who was apprehended two days prior with a pistol and live cartridges.
During police remand, the accused confessed to concealing the grenade within the dashboard of the vehicle. Acting on his disclosure, STF personnel, accompanied by a bomb disposal squad, reached the site and successfully retrieved the device. Following the recovery, authorities immediately cordoned off the vicinity and restricted public movement to ensure safety while investigating agencies examined the origin and intended use of the explosive.
Preliminary investigations conducted by the STF suggest that the suspect was planning a targeted blast in either Kurukshetra or Ambala. Sub-Inspector Daljit Singh of the Ambala STF unit stated that the accused was awaiting final instructions from a foreign-based handler to execute the attack. While a specific target has not been identified, the suspect reportedly admitted that the blast was intended to intimidate an individual from whom an extortion ransom had been demanded.
The investigation further revealed that Surya Pratap had initially received two grenades. One was reportedly collected by an associate a few days ago, while the second remained in his possession. Officials noted that the accused was in constant communication with overseas mentors. Security agencies are now working to trace the associate who took the first grenade and are conducting raids to dismantle the network responsible for smuggling such sophisticated explosives into the state.